Fuel Prices Increase Food Costs
09.12.2008

Costs are up for food

Shipping prices impact farmland harvest.  Even though the price of oil is waning, fuel costs are still high which adds to the expenses needed to ship crops from Washington to Alaska.  Even communities like Fife which is close to the Port of Tacoma, local farmers incur large expenses because of fuel prices.

American Fast Freight, Inc. (AFF) is a local employee owned company ships a lot of products to and from Alaska and has seen the price of everything go up.  This hurts consumers who have to spend more at the grocery store, especially for freshly harvested foods from the lower 48 states.

The cost of fuel drives up the price for more than just berries, apples, corn and even pumpkins for Halloween but alsoroad repair, and petroleum based materials like plastic or synthetic rubber.

National Truck Driving Championship
09.10.2007

Super Bowl of Safety

Scott Watts representing Federal Express in Alaska wins first place in National Truck Driving Championship Strait Truck class.

Nearly 480 drivers from across the country participated in the 70th annual “Super Bowl of Safety” truck diving competition sponsored by the American Trucking Associations. State champions competed nationally in eight different class events where drivers tested their safety knowledge and skills by maneuvering in close spaces, judging distances and precession positioning their vehicles.

The championship was held inside Minneapolis Convention Center and only drivers with at least one year without a driving accident leading up to the state level competitions could participate.

Modest Truck Tonnage Forecast
08.27.2007

Fewer construction shipments expected

According to the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the slumping housing market will impact truck tonnage. The seasonally adjusted "For-Hire" Truck Tonnage Index rose in July but construction shipments weigh more on average than general freight and any weakness in the housing development directly affects the trucking industry which is responsible for shipping almost 70 percent of all tonnage carried domestically.

The ATA states that 10.7 billion tons of freight was hauled by trucks in 2005 which accounted for 84.3 percent of revenue for all shipping modes. For this very reason, the Trucking industry is a key indicator of the US economy. In line with the predicted of a softening in the construction market, forecasters expect only a modest tonnage increase for the fall of 2007.

LNG Powred Vessel
08.06.2007

M/V Viking Energy Vessel

An environment friendly or "green" platform supply vessel will soon be deployed by the offshore Norwegian shipping group Eidesvik. Unlike diesel powered ships commonly used to transport cargo, Eidesvik plans to use Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) powered vessel which is expected to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

This new LNG ship design will help lower negative environmental impact and help further Norway´s progress in meeting the goals of the Kyoto treaty agreement. The Kyoto Protocol is an amendment to the international treaty on climate change which assigns mandatory emission limitations to reduce greenhouse gases. Participating countries, 169 in all, expect to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5 percent below their 1990 levels before 2012.

The Eidesvik LNG ship will operate in the North Sea with a deadweight capacity of 6,013 tons and 24 onboard crew members. The vessel represents a new generation of platform supply vessels; in addition to the LNG technology and attractive ship design with the bridge located to the aft, there has been much emphasis concerning safer working conditions for the crew.

Kensignton Tunnel Completed
07.11.2007

Aerial of mine and surrounding area

Coeur d´Alene Mines Corporation (NYSE:CDE, TSX:CDM) today announced that construction work has been completed on the main access tunnel at the Kensington Gold Mine in Alaska, with all remaining, non-tailings related surface facility construction scheduled for completion by mid-August.

The completion of the 12,000-foot horizontal tunnel now allows for clear access between the Kensington Mine and the Jualin property, where the mill and processing facilities are located. Contractors from the Redpath/Kake Native corporation joint venture, along with Coeur Alaska, completed the final 6,800 feet of tunneling over the past year.

The processing facility and mill, located outside the portal in the Jualin Valley, are expected for completion by August 15. In addition to connecting with the Kensington Mine for mining equipment and ventilation, the 18- foot wide by 15-foot high tunnel further opens up new territory in the historic Jualin and Comet mining areas to future exploration potential.

The Kensington Mine is expected to produce 150,000 ounces of gold per year in its initial years at an estimated cash cost of $310 per ounce of gold., with an expected 10-15 year mine life based on current mineral inventory. The mine has 1.35 million ounces of proven and probable gold mineral reserves.

The Company is continuing to review its options, including engaging the environmental organizations´ plaintiffs, and hopes to find a solution to the tailings facility at Kensington so it may proceed with production. Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation is one of the world´s leading primary silver producers and has a strong presence in gold. The company has mining interests in Alaska, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Chile, Nevada and Tanzania.