It was interesting that when we looked f

or restricted itemson the USPS website for shipping to Saint Kitts and Nevis, we were unable to find any restricted items.
The only prohibited item that we found was radioactive materials.

 Here are some interesting facts that we found:

•    Saint Kitts is and Nevis are also known as the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis.
•    They are located in the Leeward Islands
•    They are a two island nation located in the West Indies.
•    It is the smallest nation in both population and area that is located in the Americas.
•    It achieved autonomy in 1967.
•    In 1971 the

•    The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis (also known as), located in the Leeward Islands, is a federal two-island nation in the West Indies.
•    It is the smallest nation in the Americas in both area and population.

•    The island of Anguilla seceded from St Kitts and Nevis in 1971.
•    Nevis is trying to secede from St Kitts, but so far, does not have the necessary votes.

Pack n send in Houston posts information about shipping to various countries as a help to our international customers.  We offer packing & shipping services. Pack and send is a company that prepares freight for freight forwarders in Houston. If you need information about shipping companies in Houston or would like a quote for a custom crate, please feel free to contact us.
We have listed below some of the countries that we ship to.

•    Albania                                                         
                                                                       •    New Zealand        
•    Algeria                      •    French Guinana         •    Nicaragua            
•    American Samoa         •    French Polynesia       •    Niger            
•    Andorra                     •    The Gambia                        
•    Angola                      •    Germany                  •    Norway            
•    Anguilla                     •    Georgia                   •    Oman            
•    Antigua and Barbuda    •    Ghana                    •    Pakistan            
•    Argentina                   •    Gibraltar                 •    Palau            
•    Armenia                     •    Greece                         
•    Aruba                        •    Greenland                 •    Panama            
•    Australia                    •    Grenada                   •    Papa New Guinea        
•    Austria                      •    Guadeloupe               •    Paraguay            
•    Azerbaijan                  •    Guam                       •    Peru            
•    Bahrain                      •    Guatemala                •    Phillipines            
•    Bangladesh                 •    Guinea                     •    Poland            
•    Barbados                    •    Guyana                    •    Portugal            
•    Baruba                       •    Honduras                  •    Puerto Rico        
•    Belarus                       •    Hong Kong                •    Reunion            
•    Belize                         •    Hungary                   •    Romania            
•    Belgium                      •    India                        •    Russia            
•    Benin                         •    Indonesia                  •    Rwanda            
•    Bermuda                     •    Iraq                         •    Saba            
•    Bhutan                       •    Ireland                      •    Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)
•    Bolivia |                      •    Israel                        •    Samoa            
•    Bonaire                       •    Italy                         •    San Marino        
•    Botswana                    •    Ivory Coast               •    Saudi Arabia        
•    Bosnia and Herzego       •    Japan                       •    Senegal            
•    Brazil                          •    Jordan                      •    Serbia            
•    Brittish Virgin Isl                                                •    Seychelles            
•    Brunei                         •    Kuwait                      •    Singapore            
•    Bulgaria                       •    Kyrgyzstan                •    Slovak Republic        
•    Burkina Faso                 •    Laos                        •    Slovenia            
•    Burundi                        •    Latvia                      •    South Africa        
•    Cameroon                     •    Lebanon                   •    South Korea        
•    Canada                        •    Lesotho                    •    Spain            
•    Cape Verde                   •    Liberia                      •    St. Maarten        
•    Cayman Islands             •    Libya                        •    St. Vincent        
•    Chile                            •    Libyan Arab Jama       •    Suriname            
•    China                           •    Liechtenstein             •    Swaziland            
•    Colombia                      •    Lithuania                   •    Sweden            
•    Congo                          •    Luxembourg               •    Switzerland        
•    Congo Republic of          •    Macedonia                 •    Syria            
•    Cook Island                   •    Madagascar               •    Taiwan            
•    Costa Rica                                                        •    Tanzania   
•    Croatia                        •    Malaysia                    •    Tonga            
•    Curaco                        •    Maldives                    •    Tongo            
•    Cyprus                        •    Mali                          •    Trinidad and Tobago    
•    Czech Republic             •    Malta                        •    Tunisia             
•    Denmark                      •    Marshall Islands          •    Turkey            
•    Djibouti                       •    Martinique                  •    Turks and Caicos Islands    
•    Dominica                     •    Mauritania                  •    Uganda            
•    Dominican Republic        •    Mauritius                    •    Ukraine            
•    Ecuador                      •    Mexico                       •    United Arab Emirates    
•    Egypt                         •    Micronesia                  •    United Kingdom         
•    El Salvador                  •    Moldova                     •    United States of America    
•    Eritrea                        •    Monaco                      •    U.S. Virgin Islands    
•    Estonia                       •    Mongolia                     •    Uruguay            
•    Ethiopia                      •    Montenegro                 •    Uzbekistan        
•    Faeroe Islands             •    Montserrat                  •    Vanuatu            
•    Finland                       •    Morocco                     •    Vatican City        
                                      •    Mozambique                •    Vietnam            
                                      •    Namibia                      •    Wallis and Futuna        
                                      •    Nepal                            
                                      •    Netherlands                        
                                      •    Netherlands Antilles                
                                      •    New Caledonia   

Situated in Western Asia, alongside the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is a fascinating country that may be divided up into four regions, each with its own inimitable personality. Each year, it exports oil from those diverse regions and adheres to strict, comprehensive import regulations. Here’s a glance at some of their some of their international shipping regulations:

•    Saudi Arabia’s international shipping rules do not allow people to ship dice, playing cards or any other gaming materials into the country. Alcoholic beverages aren’t permitted to cross into the country’s borders either.

•    Shipping perfumes or colognes into Saudi Arabia?  The government requires them to go through one of the country’s designated laboratories for testing. Plus, they must meet strict labeling guidelines and receive a Certificate of Conformity first.

•    Saudi Arabia currently prohibits every device that contains a hidden camera from entering into the country. Plus, they disallow night vision gear and mobile phones too. So you’ll definitely need to leave the camera phones, camera watches, camera pens and spy camera cigarette packs at home.

•    The list of items that are not allowed into Saudi Arabia includes Christmas trees, Bibles, religious jewelry, toys that resemble Gods, religious artwork and books on theological studies.

•    The country’s government also restricts or prohibits the shipping of items like herbal teas, herbal vitamin supplements, herbal creams, herbal hair products, nutmeg and other assorted spices.

To learn more about the regulations and rules that must be followed when engaging in international shipping to Saudi Arabia, please contact us at (713) 266-1450 today. We’ll help you make sense out of it all in no time.

When the need arises to ship something internationally, it is important to know what is required. This is a way to make certain what is shipped makes it safely to the designated country. Too many times it's the small mistakes that can make a difference. Everything starts when choosing an experienced international shipping company. They will offer you their shipping expertise.

According to an article in Entrepreneur Magazine, You should also be aware of any regulations on shipping containers for the destination country. Businesses using wood pallets, for instance, might not realize that some countries regulate wood packaging to control pests and ask companies to follow specific standards.

Paperwork Errors

One of the most common types of problems that occur when shipping internationally is with paperwork. This can be avoided when a customs broker has all the necessary information for all items being shipped. The most vital document required in the commercial invoice. It is a legal document that customs offices at the destination country will honor. It is a list of items the shipper is sending to the country and their declared value.

Packing

All international shipping will require proper packing. An experienced international shipping company will know how items should be packed for their journey. It's important to use undamaged cardboard boxes. The use of shipping tape is preferred over masking tape. It's important to understand that some countries require all packages be opened and inspected. There are also countries that have a history of theft for items shipped there. An international shipping company will know the packing requirements of destination countries.
If you would like to learn more about the benefits of using an international shipping company we can help.

Contact us today and learn more. Below, we have listed some of the common countries that you can ship to. Here at pack n send, we can help you ship to the following contries.

Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Baruba
Belarus
Belize
Belgium
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia |
Bonaire
Botswana
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Brittish Virgin Islands
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
|Chile
China
Colombia
Congo
Congo Republic of
Cook Island
Costa Rica
Croatia
Curaco
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Faeroe Islands
Fijii
Finland
France
French Guinana
French Polynesia
Gabon
The Gambia
Germany
Georgia
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guinea
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Libyan Arab Jamahiriy
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
Netherlands Antilles
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papa New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Phillipines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Reunion
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Saba
Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)
Samoa
San Marino
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Singapore
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
St. Barthelemy
St. Eustatius
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Maarten
St. Vincent
Suriname
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tonga
Tongo
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turks and Caicos Islands
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States of America
U.S. Virgin Islands
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Wallis and Futuna
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

 Shipping a small amount of furniture?

This sounds like a simple question, but if you live in a small town, or a foreign country the shipping of the furniture to your city may prove to be a bit of a challenge. 

For example, say you are shopping in Houston,Texas and happen to live in Kuwait City Kuwait. You may have found a crystal chandelier that you need shipped, along with the couches, dining room furniture and bedroom furniture. Oh yes, and you also purchased artwork and sculptures that you need shipped. 

Or say you have purchased two couches in New Orleans, Louisiana and would like your furniture delivered to Anchorage Alaska.  

In the shipping industry these are not uncommon occurrences. 

Let’s start with the shipment from Houston Texas.  You could always look at shipping via air.  A very expensive option. Some customers want their furniture shipments within a week.  While not highly recommended this option is possible. A more likely scenario is to ship this purchase inside a container and ship it via ocean. Easy? Only when you use a company experienced in shipping house hold goods. 

Let’s look at the items that were purchased. First, a crystal chandelier. The crystals on this chandelier will need to be wrapped in bubble. The chandelier will need to be hung inside a custom built crate, so that no part of the chandelier touches any part of the crate. The wrapped chandelier will need to be surrounded by packing peanuts so that the chandelier does not move during the shipping process. 

The couches and bedroom furniture will need to be wrapped in cardboard so that the furniture does not rub against other furniture during the shipping process. If a nightstand has glass, the glass will need to be removed and separately boxed or crated for the ocean shipping process.  Any glass doors on dressers will need to be wrapped while still attached to the dresser. 

The dining room chairs will need to be wrapped for shipping. If there is a glass display case, it will need to be crated or custom boxed before it is loaded into the container.

 The sculptures that were purchased will have to be boxed or crated depending on the material the sculpture is made from as well as the value of the sculpture. 

Receipts for the purchases will need to be accumulated and Commercial Invoices will need to be filled in. 

Before loading the container, the shipment will need to be staged inside a warehouse. Shipping companies allow two hours of free load time.  If you have practiced ahead of time the placement of the furniture, then it is easy and fast for four to  six men to load and seal the container.  You do not want to load and unload the container once it is on your property as this is both time consuming and costly. 

Let’s look at the domestic furniture purchase. New Orleans to Anchorage Alaska. Air is always an option, but a very costly option. You can look at hiring a moving truck to take the furniture to Alaska, but think about gas and personnel charges.

 In this case you might want to look at freighting your furniture. That is right. You have an option to put your furniture on a truck and have it sent to your door step.  The furniture will be loaded and strapped onto a pallet. You will have it delivered either to a receiving company, or you can have it delivered directly to your house with curbside delivery. In this case, you may unload the furniture yourself, and move it inside your house on your own. 

You can request to have the furniture unloaded and brought inside your home. This is a more costly alternative, but used quite often.

 For information about shipping small loads of furniture, both domestically and internationally, feel free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

While pack n send ships to countries throughout the world, we have also developed  lessons for classroom teachers to us with their students. These lessons may also be helpful for parents as they enter the summer with their children. 

There are flags from countries, as well as facts about each country. The link for this program is:   http://www.pack-n-send.com/students-teachers/  

For more information on international shipping, please feel free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

When analyzing shipping companies, we have a few recommendations.

These recommendations apply to shipping companies throughout the world. 

Look for a company that can ship anything almost everywhere. Remember, there are a few countries that are embargoed, so no one is legally permitted to ship to these countries. 

Look for a full service company that can ship via UPS, Dhl, Federal Express, freight, and offer moving services. 

 Look for a company that offers pick up and delivery service.

Look for a company that offers full value coverage.

Look for a company that has been in business over 30 years.

Look for a company that retains experienced employees.

Look for a company that builds their custom crates on site.

Look for a company that can build custom pallets for international shipping.

Look for a company that can receive freight on your behalf.

Look for a company that can assist with estate shipping.

Look for a company that offers document shredding services.

Look for a company that offers domestic and international shipping.

Look for a company that sells discounted boxes for people who would like to pack on their own.

Look for a company that can ship servers. 

Look for a company that can offer a small move. 

When looking for shipping companies in Houston,Texas, we recommend pack n  send. They possess all of the qualifications listed above. 

Please feel free to call pack n send at 713 266 1450 for additional advice choosing the correct shipping company to meet your business or individual needs.

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Customers call and ask advice about international shipping. In this blog, we will attempt to answer a few of their questions.

 Can I ship anything over seas?

 The answer is no.  Countries all over the world have items that are prohibited from being shipped.  Everything from pancake mix, to jewelry are prohibited from entering certain countries.

 Can I ship via ground overseas?

 The answer is no. If your shipment is large enough, you can ship via ocean.  Your basic options are shipping by the cubic meter, or inside a container.  For cars, there may be a roll on roll off service offered.

 If you have a small package air shipping will be more cost effective.

  Can I send a package to another country and not list a phone number or email address for the recipient?

 The answer is no.  If there is any difficulty in delivering a package, there needs to be a way to get a hold of the final recipient. 

Can I ship medicine out of the country? 

The answer is yes.  You will need to check with the recipients country to see if the specific medicine is permitted to enter into the country. The recipient may need a governmental form for import, or something as basic as a copy of the prescription.  Always check before you ship.

 For more helpful international shipping tips, please feel free to contact pack n send inHoustonat 713 266 1450.

 When looking for a company to ship your goods worldwide, we have a few helpful hints:

Can the company offer you various shipping options?

Can they handle shipments by the cubic feet?

Can they load a container for you?

Can they ship an automobile for you?

Does the company offer valuation coverage for your shipment?

Can the company offer small package service?

Can the company prepare your commercial invoice?

Ask if the company can handles international shipping on a regular basis.

Do they ask you if an SED is required?

Can the company take apart equipment in order to reduce the size for shipping?

Does the company have a list of the countries that they can ship to for you to look over?

Can the company build custom crates as well as custom pallets?

Can the company offer pick up as well as delivery service?

Can the company give you a quote for your shipment ahead of time?

Can the company handle household as well as company shipments?

Can the company build a custom box if needed.

Can the company tell you how long the current owners have been in business handling international shipments.

These are just a few of the questions we recommend asking before you choose a company to ship internationally on your behalf.

For more information about shipping internationally, feel free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

Container Loading for Household goods requires using a knowledgeable company that has experience with both packing as well as shipping international goods. Each country has a separate list for goods that are not allowed into the country. A company that can accumulate your items as well as pack and load them is a good way to start the process.

  Look for a company that has experience with container loading. Certain items will need to have cardboard wrapping for protection. Other items will need to be bubble wrapped and put inside boxes for protection.  High value or delicate items may need to have special crates built.

 Blocking and bracing will need to be done inside the container. A complete list of items  will need to be kept to be presented to customs.

 Customs documentation will need to be filled in.

 Ask if the company can provide you with a commercial bill of lading. They will also need to provide you with contact numbers when your shipment is delivered to your destination port.

Ask them for a quote up front for the pick up, packing and shipping charges.

If you need any advice for your next international move, please feel free to contact pack n send  at 713 266 1450.
 

 Now that Christmas is over, there may be gifts you received that you really cannot use. Why not list them on eBay and use your profits to buy something that you really would like to own.

eBay is one of the largest online auction websites world-wide with millions of sellers and buyers. You can just bring in your items to pack n send in Houston, TX and they will list your eBay item for you. Other cities have other eBay listing stores where you can take your items for listing and sale.

Make eBay Shipping Easy

With Pack n Send we'll take all the hard work out for you. We will take the time to research the items you want to sell, get photographs of the items, list the items, get you top dollar for the items and lastly, ship the items to their buyer for you. We will help you get your eBay listing seen and sold at an astounding amount. 

Houston eBay Shipping Services

For those located in Houston, Texas you can now take advantage of Pack n Sand’s Houston eBay shipping. Our shipping services have been designed to help you get exactly what you need at a price you'll be able to afford. 

If you don't actually have anywhere to store your eBay listings while you are waiting for them to sell consider making you of Pack n Sand’s inventory storage options. Pack n Send can store your inventory within their local warehouse until the eBay listings are sold.

We want to make the overall process for you uncomplicated. It can be hard keeping things organized and on time, especially if you have large amounts of sales occurring each and everyday. Let Pack n Send make the process easier for you so you can enjoy your eBay business even more and get all those eBay listings selling. 

Time is everything when it comes to eBay. You want to ensure your items are shipped quickly and the price is affordable. This is possible when you have Pack n Send assisting you with the overall process. 

For more information about listing items on eBay, please feel free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

Pack n send is posting this article from Air Cargo News as an article in our continuing series on cargo and freight security.  While this article does not offer specific regulations, it does show that the European Union is working in a diligent and thoughtful manner before instituting new measures.

EUROPE plans to introduce tough new security regulations in the wake of the airfreight bomb scares last month.

EU transport vice-president, Siim Kallas (right), is taking part in a series of high-level meetings to discuss the changes.

“We need new rules on security controls of cargo and mail from third countries, so I intend to propose legislation early next year on transfer cargo originating outside the EU,” he said.

“We must also move more quickly to tighten EU requirements for supply chain security. We must expand inspection programmes, to ensure that these requirements are implemented properly,” he added.

Fortunately, Kallas is building a reputation for reasonable solutions, unlike many other politicians and members of the popular press around the world.

“We should not fall into the trap of overreacting with new across-the-board screening and control procedures,” he said. “That would paralyse both the aviation industry and our economies, which rely on fast and reliable air cargo services. That would be a victory for our opponents, who would probably still find another loophole somewhere. We must be confident but not complacent.”

For more information on shipping from Houston, the United States and Europe, please feel free to contact pack n send at  713 266 1450.

 While DHL has not posted the exact dates for holiday shipping for 2010, they do not offer any guarantees the week before Christmas.

 For shipping with DHL, pack n send would recommend shipping out side the United States by December 17 due to the high volume of packages they ship this time of year.

 While most countries take about three business days to ship during the holiday season, individuals and businesses shipping to Kazakhstan will probably need to allow at least  5 business days.

We will try and update our customers on a country by country basis as DHL we are provided with more information by DHL.

 We have included a complete list of the countries we ship to for our customers needing help shipping outside the United States.

If you need shipping times for specific countries, please feel free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

 Countries we ship to:

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Cargo Shipping-Port of Houston Appointment

 Good news for the Port of Houston.  The Port is reporting that Kase Lawal will serve along side President Obama.  Having someone from the Houston area working within the administration can only help the Houston economy. Pack n send monitors news and happenings at the Port of Houston, and tries to provide our customers with updated information.

 We have reprinted this press release from the Port of Houston as a service to our customers.

 Port Commissioner Lawal Receives Presidential Appointment

 Port of Houston Commissioner Kase Lawal has been tapped to serve as a member of the White House Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations (ACTPN). President Barack Obama announced Wednesday that Commissioner Lawal would be appointed to this important post.

Administered by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the ACTPN provides information and advice with respect to U.S. trade agreement negotiation objectives and bargaining positions, the operation of trade agreements, and other matters related to the development, implementation and administration of U.S. trade policy.

“It is an honor to serve President Obama as a member of this advisory committee,” Commissioner Lawal said. “I remain a dedicated steward to opening markets throughout the world and lending my expertise to shape policies and strengthen opportunities.”

Houston Mayor Annise Parker remarked, “As an international city that is home to a port that is ranked first in foreign tonnage, we are, naturally, very interested in matters that impact trade with other countries. Mr. Lawal’s strong knowledge of these areas will make him a productive asset to the ACTPN. President Obama could not have made a better choice.”

 Lawal has served on the port commission since June 1999 as an appointee of Houston’s mayor and city council. He has served as the commission’s vice chairman and is a member of the board of pilot commissioners. He was instrumental in organizing and serves on the board of the Port of Houston Authority International Corporation (POHAIC), which provides management consulting and technical assistance to foreign ports. Commissioner Lawal also helped establish the port authority’s Small Business Development Program, which has an aggressive goal of awarding at least 35 percent of all eligible contracts to certified small businesses.

Port Commission Chairman James T. Edmonds applauded Lawal’s appointment. “Kase Lawal relies upon his international business acumen to help lead the port authority, and our port is all the stronger because of his leadership. He works diligently with his colleagues to accomplish our objectives, and I am confident that he will be a tremendous asset to the White House Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations.”

Professionally, Lawal is chairman and CEO of CAMAC International Corporation, a global energy corporation with interests in oil and gas exploration and production, engineering services and crude oil and refined products trading. He is also the chairman of Allied Energy Corporation, vice chairman of Unity National Bank and vice chairman of the Houston Airport System Development Corporation. Active in developing international trade relations, Lawal has been an appointee to the U.S. Trade Advisory Committee on Africa and has served on the board of the Corporate Council on Africa. Additionally, he has participated in several trade missions to Africa.

Lawal earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Texas Southern University and a master’s degree in business -Freight Shipping & Receiving administration, finance and marketing from Prairie View A&M University. He was awarded an honorary doctorate in philosophy from Fort Valley State University and a doctorate of humane letters honoris causa from Texas Southern University.

 For more information on shipping freight and cargo out of  Houston and the Port of Houston, please contact pack n send at  713 266 1450.

Pack n send is posting this press release issued by the Port Authority of Houston.  Pack n send ships cargo and containers through the port of Houston. 

Freight shipping from Houston has a major impact on the Houston economy.

By unanimous vote, the Harris County Commissioners Court and the Houston City Council today jointly re-appointed James T. Edmonds as chairman of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority. County commissioners and city council members gathered at Houston City Council Chambers for the re-appointment vote.

"I am deeply honored and grateful for the confidence Harris County Commissioners and the Houston City Council have expressed in me since I was first appointed chairman in 2000," Edmonds said. "I will work even harder over the next two years to ensure that confidence is well-placed."

Initially appointed to the port commission in October 1996 to represent Harris County, Edmonds was first appointed chairman in 2000 by the city and the county. Edmonds is also a member of the board of commissioners for the Houston Pilots Association. Port of Houston Authority (PHA) commissioners serve two-year terms without pay.

Under Edmonds' leadership as chairman, PHA has implemented some of the most innovative initiatives in environmental stewardship, security and facility operations while experiencing the most aggressive growth, capital expansion and profitability in the organization's 96-year history.

"I'm glad to see Jim Edmonds reappointed for another term as chairman of the Port of Houston Authority," said Harris County Judge Ed Emmett. "It's in times of economic uncertainty like these that Jim's foresight and calm, steady guidance are most needed. All of us in Harris County benefit from Jim's experience and wisdom."

The port authority made history in 2002, when it became the first U.S. port facility to implement an Environmental Management System (EMS) that meets the rigorous parameters of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 system. Under Edmonds' leadership, the port authority continues to set standards in environmental stewardship and security measures. In 2008, PHA became the world's first port authority to initiate a Security Management System worthy of certification for ISO 28000:2007. In 2009, the recertification of its EMS raised the bar yet higher, with the additional certification of the Bayport Container Terminal. Opened in February 2007, the Bayport terminal has added to PHA's capability to process 1.8 million in container TEUs annually.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker stated, "I am pleased to join Harris County Commissioners and Houston City Council in reappointing Jim Edmonds as chairman of the Port of Houston Authority. He is a proven leader who has guided the port through a period of unprecedented growth and environmental advances. Keeping him at the helm will help ensure this progress continues."

In addition to operating or leasing the public port facilities, the Port of Houston Authority is the sponsor of the Houston Ship Channel. In 2009, Chairman Edmonds worked closely with U.S. Rep. Gene Green and other members of the Texas congressional delegation to help the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers receive $98.8 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. It was the largest single allocation of federal funding for infrastructure projects the channel had ever received. The waterway's impact on the region includes about 785,000 jobs and $118 billion in economic activity. Across the U.S., 1.5 million jobs and $285 billion worth of economic activity are related to the ship channel.

Edmonds' leadership also enabled the port authority to play a major role in advancing railroad transportation efficiency by helping create the state's first Gulf Coast Rail District. The Houston Ship Channel Security District also gained state legislative approval during Edmonds' tenure. Both projects are highly regarded for setting standards of excellence in public- private partnerships.

The completion of the $700 million Houston Ship Channel deepening and widening project in 2005 is considered a testament to Edmonds' strength in building coalitions among congressional members and various local stakeholders. In addition to enhancing navigational safety for commercial vessels, the project created more than 4,200 acres of wetlands and wildlife habitats.

PHA's opportunities with small businesses also were elevated under Edmonds' leadership. In 2002, PHA created and implemented its Small Business Development program with a 35 percent participation goal and - since its inception - the program has awarded nearly $285 million in PHA eligible contracts to registered firms.

In addition to his civic service with the Port of Houston, Edmonds also serves as a board member of the Memorial Hermann Hospital System, Gulf Coast Rail District, I-69 TxDOT Advisory Committee, and the Alliance for I-69 Texas. Edmonds is president of Edmonds & Company, a business consulting firm. business consulting firm.

For more information on shipping freight through the Port of Houston, please contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

While pack n send has been concentrating on the effects of the oil spill in the Gulf, we need to remember how hurricanes can affect both Houston Shipping as well as general freight and cargo shipping throughout the region.

US - CARIBBEAN - With the start of the hurricane season now officially upon us lives will doubtless be lost at sea, some unnecessarily, and the advice from the Texas  Coast Gurad applies equally to all at risk from a big blow. The   Marine Safety Information Bulletin  regarding severe weather safety planning issued by the Houston - Galveston sector this week offers sound advice to all mariners, and port side operators, likely to be at risk from the storms.

Using the experience gleaned from other catastrophic storms such as Hurricanes Rita (2005) and IKE (2008) the Guard have compiled an eight point plan which, although specific to the area of their jurisdiction, would equally serve seafarers and dock operators anywhere in the ‘at risk' zones.

A revised précis of the plan is as follows:

1) Deep Draft vessels should leave port well in advance of a threatened storm.

2) Such vessels unable to leave port should advise local authorities and issue a declaration of their intent to remain in port where necessary. These ships are generally at far greater risk whilst in port than on the open sea.

3) Commercial boat and barge tows (tugs etc.) that usually ply their trade on intra coastal waterways should leave the threatened area completely as early as possible or, if unable to do so, to head inland as far as possible and make use of any available shelter. Cargo vulnerability (hazardous goods etc) should be given special consideration and local advice sought.

4) Commercial fishing vessels should plan ahead for locations of safe shelter. During prior storms, vessels that sought sheltered moorings and kept a live watch onboard to tend lines and apply horsepower fared best. Once again when threatened by an approaching storm, commercial fishing vessels should leave port or find shelter as far inland as possible to avoid damage during a storm's passage.

5) Skippers should establish if there are plans to relocate Coast Guard offices and other responsible authorities during the severe weather and ensure communications are possible.

6) Facilities with storage tanks, missile hazards, dangerous cargoes, and container and pallet stacks are encouraged to take positive action to secure or remove these entities should they be threatened. Flying objects such as these pose a major threat to lives and property

7) Waterfront facilities are encouraged to conduct an annual survey prior to the Hurricane Season. Also, each facility should have an emergency survey at their docks as soon as possible after a hurricane passes.

8) Local authorities and those responsible should conduct inspections of all susceptible items prior to and immediately after a storm with attention paid to such items as hoses etc which should be drained and secured.

This article was reprinted from the handy shipping guide.

Pack n send will provide further hurricane preparation updates as we find are relevant to this hurricane season.

For more information about Houston shipping and freight preparation, please feel free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

www.pack-n-send.com

 Tanker Cleaned Offshore with Minimal Delays

This news release is reprinted with permission of the Port of New Orleans.

Mississippi River remains open and unrestricted

Update no. 9-- A tanker heading upriver requested to be cleaned this morning after encountering oil. The tanker was cleaned by two offshore work boats outfitted with fire hoses. The cleaning process took about 30 minutes to complete, and was conducted roughly 4 miles away from the entrance to the Mississippi River at Southwest Pass around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The tanker was inspected further after it entered Southwest Pass, where two launch vessels equipped with pressure washers are stationed to conduct more detailed cleaning while the ship is slowly moving upriver. No oil was detected at the second cleaning site and the vessel proceeded upriver.

The tanker was not calling the Port of New Orleans, but was headed to another facility elsewhere on the lower Mississippi River.

A few other vessels were inspected this morning but did not require cleaning.

The Mississippi River remains open to maritime traffic, and no ship calls have been canceled because of the spill.

Pack n send has been paying attention to freight and cargo shipping out of the Port of New Orleans.

With this press release, it looks like good News for the Louisiana coast.

For information about shipping freight out of the port of Houston, or other ports throughout the world, please contact pack n send at  713 266 1450.

US - The use of new technology, rail computer software which analyses traffic flow information and planned schedules and then optimizing the routes that train should take has been undergoing tests on a 200 mile stretch of track in Georgia. The system, GE Rail Edge Movement Planner, was thoroughly trialed by rail giant Norfolk Southern after an approach from GE  Transportation, and the results appear remarkable.

Norfolk Southern is expanding the technology's use to its entire 22-state rail network through 2012. Movement Planner will help Norfolk Southern increase the average network speed train velocity of its trains by 10-20 percent, representing a significant opportunity for cost savings and train delay reductions. The companies say that by integrating railroad logistics with traffic control systems, the technology projects expected track usage, based on train schedules, and then produces an optimized plan to get trains moving faster and more efficiently. By maximizing existing railroad resources, Rail Edge also improves railroad crew management availability.

"With railroads, it's about scale," said Wick Moorman, CEO of Norfolk Southern. "GE's Rail Edge supports incremental routing and speed improvements down to the individual train level. That will add up to sizeable efficiency gains on a 2,500-train per day, 21,000-route mile system like ours. When we make the best use of our existing transportation infrastructure, that's a competitive advantage for our customers and for the country."

Pack n send has  published this article from handy shipping guide as service to our customers. Pack n send has ships cargo from Houston as well as the rest of the nation. We also ship furniture via freight and ship internationally both via cubic meters and containers.

For more information about the ways pack n send can help make your freight shipping easy, please call us at  713 266 1450.

www.pack-n-send.com

Containment and recovery (Civilian Flotilla)

By pgray

May 19, 2010, 9:32PM

By pgray

May 19, 2010, 9:32PM

A large and growing chunk of the Gulf is covered with a layer of $70 per barrel oil. If you have a sea-worthy boat and maritime expertise, you can contain and recover AND SELL that oil.
Anyone with a vessel suitable for deploying booms on the open ocean can assist in the containment of the Gulf Slick. You will need to deploy a chain of booms around an area of slick. You will then need a mechanism to tighten the boom chain, reducing the enclosed area and deepening the trapped oil. One method would be to support the boomline with 3/8 cable. To close your trap, thread the free end of the cable through the first boom and reel in the cable, detaching booms as you go. As the oil deepens, it will reduce wave action, preventing emulsification, as well as splashing and wind-borne spray. The excess booms can then be used to contain another portion of the slick. Extend a tube connected to your pump and storage tank beneath the boom chain. An auxiliary fuel tank with 5000 gallon capacity will hold almost 1200 barrels or $8400 worth of crude. On the end of this tube, fit a flat piece of material heavier than oil, but lighter than water such that it will support the mouth of the tube above the waterline, but immersed in oil. As the oil is recovered, continue to tighten the boom line to maintain the flow of oil into the pipe. It may be necessary to attach floats and weights to the tube to maintain optimum position in varying conditions. As lighter fractions are recovered, the degrading oil beneath the surface can be recovered. Adjustment of the intake depth may be required. Recovery vessels must be vented to prevent buildup of volatile gases.
For those with barges, go for the mother-lode. Encircle the area where new oil surfaces. Employ multiple intakes to stop the slick.
If you are interested, or know others who might want to get in on this. pass it on. If you have questions or comments, please respond Thanks Phil 903-780-5644

Pack n send has been monitoring web sites with comments about the oil spill.  While most of them are discussing blame, we found this on the City of New Orlans web site. It is one of the comments listed that not only offered a possible solution, but also suggests a call to action.

While pack n send can ship their cargo out of the port of Houston, businesses in New Orleans are directly impacted by this oil spill. Trucking of cargo to the port of Houston will cost businesses additional expenses that could have been avoided.

Phil has sent this to Horizon support - a task force put together by the government and BP.  Phil is still waiting to hear if they are going to use his idea. The coast guard also puts their ideas through Horizon support. He is hoping that the government will raise the depth of the spill and then surround the spill with barges.  Private industry could help in this recovery since they already have 5000 gallon auxiliary tanks. 

For information on cargo shipping out of the port of Houston, please contact pack n send at  713 266 1450.

Pack n send is once again publishing reports of delayed freight shipments to the volcanic eruption in Iceland.

While the winds had improved for much of Europe during the last few weeks, they have once again changed and are causing problems for both England and other parts of Europe.

This travel disruption effects both human and cargo travel.

The latest update was provided by Handy Shipping News.

Pack n send is able to prepare your freight and cargo shipments for shipping. We are watching newscasts and keeping our customers up to date on cargo delays. A the current time we are able to store your freight as it awaits departure.

UK - Another few days, or possibly weeks, of misery face UK shipping interests as warnings were issued today that the high altitude cloud of fine debris drifting in from Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano after another series of eruptions poured huge quantities of fine ash into the atmosphere, may suspend all passenger and cargo flight bringing despair to British exporters and importers, their suppliers and customers

Once again our readers are referred to the websites of the relevant authorities. The current cloud is likely to start to encroach on British airspace from the North of Scotland moving rapidly to prohibit any traffic from the South East of England due to the prevailing winds. The area is likely to include all of Britain's main airports including Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted.

Yesterday we reported that the cloud had fallen to around 18,000 feet at it's highest point but the latest eruptions, encouraged by local weather, meant that the settled ceiling of ash has risen to around 21,000 feet although this should remain lower than a level which would seriously disrupt transatlantic travel for those not traveling to or from the affected UK airports. Above the volcano itself heavy quantities of ash reach over 27,000 feet (around 8 kilometres).

For more information on international freight shipping, please feel free to contact pack-n-send at  713 266 1450.

www.pack-n-send.com

Pack n send receives many phone calls about our international shipping services. We are providing the list of countries that we ship to so that our customers have a handy guide to look at.  We offer air, ground, cubic meter, freight  and container shipping options. Once you call us and let you know what you would like to ship, we can help you by providing  you with the most cost effective option for you shipping needs.

Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Baruba
Belarus
Belize
Belgium
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia|
Bonaire
Botswana
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Brittish Virgin Islands
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Chile
China
Colombia
Congo
Congo Republic of
Cook island
Costa Rica
Croatia
Curaco
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
DPR of Korea Republic
East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia |
Faeroe Islands
Falkland Islands
Faroc Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guinana
French Polynesia
Gabon
The Gambia
Germany
Georgia
Ghana
Gibraltar
Ginvea-Bissau
Ginvea-Exquatorial
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea Republic
Guyana

Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran-Islamic Republic of Tersey
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Korpa
Kosovo
Kosrae Island
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Libyan Arab Jamahiriy
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
Netherlands Antilles
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Nive
Northern Mariana Islands
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
|Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papa New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Phillipines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar

Republic of Nevis
Reunion
Romania
Rota
Russia
Rwanda
Saba
Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovak Republic
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
Somaliand
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
St. Barthelemy
St. Croix
St. Eustatius
St. John
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Maarten
St. Thomas
St. Vincent
Sudan
Suriname
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Tadjikistan
Tahiti
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tinian
Tonga
Tongo
Tortola
Trinidad and Tobago
Truk
Tunisia
Turkey
Turks and Caicos Islands
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States of America
U.S. Virgin Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands(Brittish)
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Virgin Gorda
Wallis and Futuna
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

For more information about international shipping, please feel free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

Pack n send is still waiting for definitive times for airport openings.  As seen by just a few sentences from A Reuters article, governments are working together in order to  open airspace. There has been no word from our freight forwarding partners as to when freight will move on schedule.

Both Fed Ex and UPS are monitoring the situations on an hourly  basis, but have not yet established time timetable when freight will move on schedule.

As soon as pack n send has this information at hand, we will pass it on to our customers.

Part of an article from Reuters follows:

BRUSSELS - European officials carved up the sky Monday, creating three zones to more quickly break the flight  deadlock caused by volcanic ash flowing from Iceland over Europe. Many more flights will be able to take off on Tuesday, the bloc said.

European countries can resume airline traffic in designated "zones" where the threat of ash is considered less dangerous, French officials said after a meeting of the bloc's 27 transport ministers.

Under the accord, one area - defined by the European air traffic control agency Euro control - will remain entirely off limits to flights. Another area will be open to all flights and a third area will be a caution zone in which some flights will be allowed.

If we can answer any questions about Houston packing, Houston freight, or shipping internationally, please feel free to contact us at 713 266 1450.

As the Icelandic volcano has stranded passengers, the impact on freight forwarding and small package moving is bound to also be felt both in the United States and throughout Europe.

Pack n send is waiting for notification from both Ups, Fed Ex, Dhl and our partners in freight forwarding in Houston in order to assess time delays for our customers.  As this information becomes available, pack n send will post the information on our web site.

Until then we are posting the following article for our customers who may be using our luggage shipping to Europe.

The article is By Richard Anderson , the Business reporter, BBC News.

The fallout from the Icelandic volcano will be felt a long time after the ash has settled.

For while the majority of flights may be back in the air by the beginning of next week, it will be many more days before the airlines have got their schedules back on track.

And that means more delayed flights for thousands of passengers, many of whom may be under the false impression that, once the ash clears, planes will be free to fly as normal.

"Airlines face a logistical nightmare," explains Barry Turner-Woods, contributing editor of Airlines World.

Not only will there be a backlog of flights to clear, but planes are stranded across the world in destinations thousands of miles from where they need to be.

Domino effect

Flight schedules are intricate and complex, and the consequences of missing just one flight, let alone hundreds, can be far reaching.

For example, as John Strickland, director of the aviation consultancy JLS Consulting, explains, an Air New Zealand flight from Hong Kong to London was forced to land in Frankfurt.

As a result, it had to cancel the flight back to Hong Kong. Another of the carrier's aircraft got into London from Los Angeles before the airspace closure -but meaning it had to cancel a London to LA flight because that plane is stuck at Heathrow Airport.

The domino effect only loses momentum once the airlines can start flying again.

"This is a really big headache, especially for long-haul operators," says Mr Strickland.

"Airlines rely on a carefully-planned sequence of flights. Once the sequence is broken, it is very hard to catch up, particularly on complex routes such as the UK to Asia or Australia."

And as more airports fall under the volcanic cloud, the problem will only get worse, particularly when those airports are international hubs such as Paris and Frankfurt, both of which were closed on Friday.

Jet lag

The logistics involved in getting back on track are hard to grasp - it's not simply a question of waiting for the ash to clear and sending the planes on their way.

"In some cases, airlines won't be able to stick with the same crew,"

For updates on freight shipping in Houston and the rest of the United States, please feel free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

Pack n send is posting this article that was found in the Handy Shipping Guide.  It emphasizes that nations are now working together in order to protect worldwide freight shipments.

SOMALIA - In a significant development the Chinese have agreed to integrate their anti-piracy patrols off of the Horn of Africa with those of the EU, NATO and the US. Up until now the Chinese had largely limited their operations to protecting their own shipping in the region and this latest move is a major step for international cooperation in combating the menace.

The Chinese will now fully join the Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (SHADE) alliance which defends shipping in a protected route through the waters close to Somalia where attacks are frequent.

The three Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships currently patrolling the area will now coordinate fully with other nation's convoy efforts and the Chinese will take part in the rolling chairmanship of the naval task force.

The new level of consensus is part of a plan agreed last year and a result of an increasing awareness in China of the need for their military to play a greater role in world security issues in order to protect their interests internationally.

The new agreement is also hoped to assuage the concerns of other nations in its own geo-political region, as well as the USA, who for several years have voiced concerns over China's navy turning from a modest ‘white-water', or largely coastal fleet, to one with significant power-projection potential.

It should also help quiet the increasing clamor amongst the Chinese public who become increasingly vocal about their nations need to assert itself more fully on the international scene, especially after the seizure of the bulk vessel De Xin Hai last year by Somali pirates.

Whatever the Geo-political reasons, any agreement that improves security in the waters of Somalia and Yemen will be welcome by those involved in the shipping industry. Last year saw  217 reported incidents and 47 vessels hijacked off of the coast of Somalia.

For help with your international freight or Houston shipping, please feel free to contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

www.pack-n-send.com

BG Freight Line Adds Second Freight Sailing Between UK And Europe  

Pack n send looks at global trends.  Added service indicates an increase in demand. This is indicates  a significant change in business since last year. Any increase in the way that freight is moved is a good sign for the world economy.

UK- BG Freight Line (BG) has launched a second weekly direct service linking Teesport with Rotterdam to meet rising demand on the route. The initial service had been established by BG, part of the Peel Ports Group, in April last year.

David Robinson, group chief executive officer of PD Ports, says: "Such was the success of the initial service linking Rotterdam with Teesport, it was clear that a second service was needed to meet our customers'  requirements. This is a growing market and the need for extra sailings is both a vote of confidence in PD Ports to handle the additional traffic and in the North East as a place to do business."

The service accepts all types of container and tank traffic. With the specially fitted vessels in the fleet, BG can offer space for 45ft long, 2.55m wide, high cube containers as well as any length tank or bulk container.

The new rotation will see vessels depart from Rotterdam on Tuesdays and Saturdays and they will arrive in Teesport on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Pack n send has reprinted this article from handy shipping guide.  We look for any signs of economic improvement in freight movement both internationally and in domestic freight movement.

If you have any questions about freight packing and shipping, please feel free to contact pack n send at  713 266 1450.

www.pack-n-send.com

Pack n send is posting this article word for word from Chron.com.  Since  the Houston Ship Channel has a major impact on freight handling, we think this is a very timely article.

By JIM EDMONDS - Chron.com editorial page

Keeping the Houston Ship Channel navigable on an ongoing basis is of utmost importance to Houston, the state of Texas and the nation. Not only is the world's second-largest petrochemical complex located here, but the U.S. economy depends on the critical flow of waterborne commerce over the port's docks.

The Port of Houston Authority partners with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to maintain the waterway's navigational safety. Each year, there are about 7,700 oceangoing commercial vessel calls and 150,000 barge movements at the PHA's cargo facilities. And there are 150 private properties in Houston's seaport complex. That level of traffic ranks the port first in the U.S. in foreign waterborne tonnage and second in overall tonnage.

Unfortunately, we've fallen behind on federal funding for Houston Ship Channel maintenance, mainly due to increased competition for those dollars. That is despite strong and valiant efforts by our entire congressional delegation, which works on a bipartisan basis on those issues. Federal funding levels for Ship Channel maintenance activities just have not kept pace with the damage to the channel caused by storms and normal siltation. For 2010, the need was nearly $36 million, but Congress appropriated only $19 million. In 2011, because of shortfalls in previous years, more than $41 million will be required to catch up.

And the Houston area isn't getting its fair share to begin with. Houston receives only 8 cents per ton of cargo, compared with other ports along the U.S. Gulf and East coasts that receive an average of 42 cents per ton. As a result, more than 80 percent of the Houston Ship Channel is either not as deep or not as wide as it is authorized to be.

This is unacceptable. In response, we are taking a more direct and coordinated approach to this issue in Washington, where recently we met with regulatory officials and congressional members who represent districts throughout Harris County. We strongly stated our case for equalized funding for the Houston Ship Channel. Continued funding shortfalls could threaten navigational safety in coming years. Potential vessel incidents could result in human casualties, property damage or environmental harm that could lead to staggering liabilities for the PHA. Inadequate Ship Channel maintenance could also drive away current and potential port customers, which would put Houston at a competitive disadvantage in the marketplace and ultimately undermine PHA's state-chartered mandate to promote regional economic development.

The news isn't all bad. In 2009, economic stimulus legislation provided $98 million in funding targeted to help make the Ship Channel more accessible. While those funds helped tremendously, the channel still needs more dredging.

The long-term answer may lie with proposed legislation to ensure that all future annual revenue collected by the federal government and put into the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund is appropriated for its authorized purpose, which is maintaining the nation's waterways. Since 2002, there has been a growing gap between revenue deposited into the fund and the annual appropriations to waterway maintenance. Some $126.7 million in harbor maintenance tax is collected annually from the Port of Houston alone, yet the funds needed for adequate maintenance of the ship channel have not been made available. This needs to be addressed through federal legislation.

Some in Washington seem to equate funding to keep the Ship Channel open with negative earmarks that too often are simply pork barrel politics. The infamous "bridge to nowhere" in Alaska comes to mind. But that is hardly the case here. Mother Nature's rains and human activity fill the channel, creating the need for regular dredging to keep it open. Make no mistake - funding for the channel is a bridge to somewhere - keeping commerce flowing strong for the benefit of not only the region but the nation as well.

An enormous portion of the economy of Texas relies on the Port of Houston. More than 785,000 jobs throughout the state are in some way related to Ship Channel activity. The overall economic impact of the port on the region is nearly $118 billion. Nationally, the port generates $285 billion in economic activity, $16.2 billion in tax revenue and 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs.

The build-out of PHA's Bayport terminal facilities will increase those impacts. The port authority has just received a 10-year extension from the Corps of Engineers that will allow the dredging and construction at Bayport to continue. As the economy struggles to recover, cargo levels at Houston's port facilities are rising. We already attract almost 70 percent of the containerized cargo that moves through the Gulf of Mexico, and our customers rely on our ability to provide quality facilities and service to move their goods to market efficiently and cost-effectively. We expect further economic growth, which is why we have $340 million in capital improvement projects planned for 2010 and 2011. That will lay the foundation for increased cargo volume in 2014, when Panama Canal expansion is expected to be completed. Conservative estimates are that volume will increase anywhere from 10 percent to 15 percent as a result of the canal expansion.

To advance our foresight and preparation for economic challenges and opportunities, PHA has recently added to its management team a professional economist whose quantitative analyses are expected to provide powerful reinforcement to the focused direction of the long-term strategic marketing plans for the port. We are determined to ensure that the economic engine that is the Port of Houston continues to drive full steam ahead.

Edmonds is chairman of the Port of Houston Authority.

If you need to ship freight via ocean either by cubic meters or in containers, please feel free to  contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

By JIM EDMONDS - Chron.com editorial page

Pack n posting this article word for word from Chron.com.  Since  the Houston Ship Channel has a major impact on freight handling, we think this is a very timely article.

Keeping the Houston Ship Channel navigable on an ongoing basis is of utmost importance to Houston, the state of Texas and the nation. Not only is the world's second-largest petrochemical complex located here, but the U.S. economy depends on the critical flow of waterborne commerce over the port's docks.

The Port of Houston Authority partners with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to maintain the waterway's navigational safety. Each year, there are about 7,700 oceangoing commercial vessel calls and 150,000 barge movements at the PHA's cargo facilities. And there are 150 private properties in Houston's seaport complex. That level of traffic ranks the port first in the U.S. in foreign waterborne tonnage and second in overall tonnage.

Unfortunately, we've fallen behind on federal funding for Houston Ship Channel maintenance, mainly due to increased competition for those dollars. That is despite strong and valiant efforts by our entire congressional delegation, which works on a bipartisan basis on those issues. Federal funding levels for Ship Channel maintenance activities just have not kept pace with the damage to the channel caused by storms and normal siltation. For 2010, the need was nearly $36 million, but Congress appropriated only $19 million. In 2011, because of shortfalls in previous years, more than $41 million will be required to catch up.

And the Houston area isn't getting its fair share to begin with. Houston receives only 8 cents per ton of cargo, compared with other ports along the U.S. Gulf and East coasts that receive an average of 42 cents per ton. As a result, more than 80 percent of the Houston Ship Channel is either not as deep or not as wide as it is authorized to be.

This is unacceptable. In response, we are taking a more direct and coordinated approach to this issue in Washington, where recently we met with regulatory officials and congressional members who represent districts throughout Harris County. We strongly stated our case for equalized funding for the Houston Ship Channel. Continued funding shortfalls could threaten navigational safety in coming years. Potential vessel incidents could result in human casualties, property damage or environmental harm that could lead to staggering liabilities for the PHA. Inadequate Ship Channel maintenance could also drive away current and potential port customers, which would put Houston at a competitive disadvantage in the marketplace and ultimately undermine PHA's state-chartered mandate to promote regional economic development.

The news isn't all bad. In 2009, economic stimulus legislation provided $98 million in funding targeted to help make the Ship Channel more accessible. While those funds helped tremendously, the channel still needs more dredging.

The long-term answer may lie with proposed legislation to ensure that all future annual revenue collected by the federal government and put into the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund is appropriated for its authorized purpose, which is maintaining the nation's waterways. Since 2002, there has been a growing gap between revenue deposited into the fund and the annual appropriations to waterway maintenance. Some $126.7 million in harbor maintenance tax is collected annually from the Port of Houston alone, yet the funds needed for adequate maintenance of the ship channel have not been made available. This needs to be addressed through federal legislation.

Some in Washington seem to equate funding to keep the Ship Channel open with negative earmarks that too often are simply pork barrel politics. The infamous "bridge to nowhere" in Alaska comes to mind. But that is hardly the case here. Mother Nature's rains and human activity fill the channel, creating the need for regular dredging to keep it open. Make no mistake - funding for the channel is a bridge to somewhere - keeping commerce flowing strong for the benefit of not only the region but the nation as well.

An enormous portion of the economy of Texas relies on the Port of Houston. More than 785,000 jobs throughout the state are in some way related to Ship Channel activity. The overall economic impact of the port on the region is nearly $118 billion. Nationally, the port generates $285 billion in economic activity, $16.2 billion in tax revenue and 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs.

The build-out of PHA's Bayport terminal facilities will increase those impacts. The port authority has just received a 10-year extension from the Corps of Engineers that will allow the dredging and construction at Bayport to continue. As the economy struggles to recover, cargo levels at Houston's port facilities are rising. We already attract almost 70 percent of the containerized cargo that moves through the Gulf of Mexico, and our customers rely on our ability to provide quality facilities and service to move their goods to market efficiently and cost-effectively. We expect further economic growth, which is why we have $340 million in capital improvement projects planned for 2010 and 2011. That will lay the foundation for increased cargo volume in 2014, when Panama Canal expansion is expected to be completed. Conservative estimates are that volume will increase anywhere from 10 percent to 15 percent as a result of the canal expansion.

To advance our foresight and preparation for economic challenges and opportunities, PHA has recently added to its management team a professional economist whose quantitative analyses are expected to provide powerful reinforcement to the focused direction of the long-term strategic marketing plans for the port. We are determined to ensure that the economic engine that is the Port of Houston continues to drive full steam ahead.

Edmonds is chairman of the Port of Houston Authority.

If you need to ship freight via ocean either by cubic meters or in containers, please feel free to  contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

Pack n send is posting this article from handyshipping news. We found it enlightening that Universities are recognizing the needs for standards in the freight shipping and freight receiving industry.

ABERDEEN / SCOTLAND - A new course has recently been launched by the Energy Centre at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, that is designed to fulfill industry requirements for a practical course delivering the benefits of applying a life-cycle approach to asset management.

The  MSc Asset Integrity Management (AIM) is designed to equip students with the skills and competencies to manage assets whilst adopting a business, safety and compliance approach. One of the course leaders, Dr Jesse Andrawus, said that: "Ships and marine items have to operate as efficiently, safely and cheaply as possible in diverse geographical and political arenas, whilst keeping within maritime law and the classification requirements of their flag state.

"AIM ensures that this occurs for the lifetime of the asset, including its decommissioning and disposal in a method very similar to an oil rig."

The course is highly flexible and has been specifically designed to fit in with students in professions. It is available to study as online distance learning and online tutoring, with directed study and peer to peer forums. This allows students to learn, and to get immediate feedback on solutions to real-life work issues, by communicating with highly experienced tutors and industry professionals in the online forums.

He described his experiences of the MSc AIM, stating that: "Expanding my knowledge in things I thought I knew a lot about is a nice feeling, but it's even better when I can quickly apply this new learning straight into a real working environment. I'm better armed to improve in my current role, and move myself forward into even greater challenges."

For more information about worldwide freight shipping and receiving, please contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

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We are posting excerpts from this article found on handy shipping guide.  It shows our industry's concern with both business and a cleaner environment.

US - The American Trucking Assn. (ATA) praised the leadership of the Port Authority of NY and NJ for developing a Clean Trucks Program designed to improve air quality at the port.

As from 1st January next year pre-1994 model trucks will no longer be able to call on Port Authority terminals; and on January 1, 2017, all trucks hauling freight from the port must meet or exceed 2007 federal emissions standards. This gives sufficient time for trucking firms to wind down their assets, and to assist with replacement vehicles.

The Port Authority designed a $28 million program to help companies and drivers transition into cleaner vehicles. Drivers that regularly call on the Port's marine terminals are eligible for assistance. While NY/NJ moves toward full program implementation, ATA urges port officials to continue evaluating freight volume movements and projections to insure that sufficient operational revenues are indeed available to cover the new truck purchase obligations that now will be generated by the Clean Truck plan.

 While fully supportive of the clean air goals, the drayage industry is in a particularly vulnerable position that may counsel for a go-slow approach until the economic climate improves."

Hopefully the changes, which all consider an essential step forward, given evidence of the harm to the health of the poorer communities who reside dockside, will proceed as scheduled. 

For more information on going green and pack n send recycling efforts, please feel free to call us at 713 266 1450.

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The heart of the dispute is taxation.The increase is described by the AITMC as "abnormal, unbearable and intolerable, which will further deteriorate the already dwindling condition of the Truckers."

The AITMC went on to say that: "More than 85% of the trucking community constitutes owners with one or two trucks who are trying to survive in the present highly inflationary and competitive environment. The Government is well aware that when the vehicles of poor truckers are seized by bank officials because of non-payment many have taken the extreme step of committing suicide.

The AITMC is also arguing that the current fees that  haulers pay in road tolls is also unfair and disproportionate, arguing that by already paying a multitude of  permit fees and taxes  the road haulage industry has already more than paid its fair share for road construction and maintenance.

Combined with this is a great deal of anger that previous promises by the Indian government to deliver a ‘New National Permit Scheme' by the 1st of January this year, which they agreed to in February 2009 to solve a dispute with the truckers, have apparently not come close to implementation.

"Therefore, if our demands are not addressed by the Government before March 31, 2010, we will be left with no alternative but to take action from midnight of April 5, 2010."

Portions of this article were posted on the Handy Shipping Guide.

As pack 'n send ships internationally, we try and keep our customers informed  about  issues that concern them  throughout the world.

For help with international shipping , please contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

CHILE - The huge earthquake that struck Chile on Saturday has dramatically affected a number of the key freight and logistic handling facilities that serve the country and which will impede international efforts to assist with relief efforts.

Current information indicates that whilst the country's northern ports are operating fine, a number of other areas are closed due to damage and under curfew conditions due to problems with rioting.

Here is a summary of the latest information available to us:

CENTRAL PORTS: QUINTERO/LAS VENTANAS: A number of piers are out of action due to damage, though port still has some operations running and repairs will see increasing service restored over the next two weeks.

SAN ANTONIO/VALPARASIO: Partially operative with some piers under evaluation for damage.

SOUTHERN/CENTRAL PORTS: A curfew is in operation in this area and most ports /terminals are closed due to Tsunami and serious port damage. Details are not fully available at this time.

Update provided by handyshippingguide.com

Pack n send is keeping a close eye on when all ports in Chile will be fully operational.

For more information on freight shipping, please contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

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Congress two years ago set an August deadline as a way to ensure the security of every piece of cargo placed next to travelers suitcases, but the air freight industry isn't ready to meet the demands according to Brandon Fried, executive director of the Airforwarders   Association  a Washington, D>C.- based air cargo trade group.

Since Feb1, 2009, the transportation Security Administration has required screening for all cargo placed on narrow -body, single-aisle passenger jets. The rule will be extended to all air cargo placed on wide-body jets beginning Aug. 1.

In places like Los Angeles, this could be a big issue because that's where wide-body aircraft depart an that's where so much of the cargo is being processed" Fried said.

"Some say the lack of cargo screening own-body jets is a weak link in security," Kyser said. "But we will have to see how it plays out this summer and if there are ay economic ramifications."

This article was a summarization of an article that appeared in Daily Breeze.

For more information on airfreight and cargo shipping, please contact pack n send at 713 266 1450

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We have received  requests for ocean rates to Haiti, the ports were so damaged that no cargo was moving except via airfreight until now....
We are now able to ship cargo of all kinds to Port Au Prince, Haiti. Prior to booking the shipment, we need you to make sure that the consignee  is capable of picking up the cargo and clearing their goods through customs. 

Please contact pack n send at 713 266 1450 for all your shipping needs to Haiti.

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According to the United State Postal Service packages and mail are still being sent to Chile. 

As more updates are available, we will post them on our blog.

For shipping internationally, please contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.

www.pack-n-send.com

With this announcement by the Crowne Plaza Houston, we are busy preparing for the rodeo.

With your belly more than satisfied, prepare for three weeks of world-class rodeo entertainment. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo runs from March 2-21, 2010 and hosts all the most popular events: bull riding, bareback bronc riding, saddle broncriding, barrel racing, steer wrestling, roping and more.  

Even if traditional rodeo sports aren't for you, the excitement keeps on coming. There's plenty of fun for the whole family with dazzling performances, a multitude of wine events, a full-sized Carnival terrific shopping booths and fun activities just for the kids.

Our out of town guests ask us to pick up their purchases both at rodeo venues as well as from Houston hotels.  We can pick up and ship all your purchases.

Please call us at 713 266 1450 for all your rodeo shipping needs.

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