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Northwest Seaport Alliance News

13 Dec 2023

Tacoma, Seattle Ports Ink Deals for Navigation Improvement Projects

(Photo; The Northwest Seaport Alliance)

Pacific Northwest seaports Seattle and Tacoma have signed design agreements with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for a pair of waterway navigation improvement projects.The Seattle Navigation Improvement Project, authorized by Congress in 2018, and the Tacoma Harbor Navigation Improvement Project, authorized in 2022, are part of a comprehensive modernization initiative for The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) gateway that began nearly a decade ago.Containerships navigating in the trans-Pacific trade are increasing in size…

26 Sep 2023

The Real Cost of Net Zero Ports

© Kalyakan / Adobe Stock

Zero emission is a nice idea, but who’s going to pay for it? The U.S. EPA is readying big money for zero emission ports.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working on two high-profile port initiatives that it hopes will move the needle in a big way towards U.S. ports’ zero emissions (ZE) operations and clean air goals.The first initiative started last May when EPA published a request for information and comments that would help the Agency develop Guidance it could use to evaluate funding requests for projects for zero-emission vehicles, port equipment and related infrastructure.

12 Apr 2023

First Vessel Plugs In at Terminal 5 in Seattle

Photo courtesy of the NWSA and Justin Hirsch, ILWU Local 19

The Northwest Seaport Alliance’s Terminal 5 has welcomed MSC Brunella as the first vessel to plug in to the terminal’s new shore power infrastructure.Terminal 5 is the first international container terminal in the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) gateway with shore power capability, and the nearly 9,000 TEU vessel successfully used clean energy from the City of Seattle’s electrical grid while at berth on April 10.Shore power installation is a key part of the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy…

07 Nov 2022

Busan, Pacific Northwest Seaports Partner on Decarbonization

(Photo: The Northwest Seaport Alliance)

The Northwest Seaport Alliance announced its newest decarbonization effort as part of the Green Shipping Challenge at the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP 27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh.The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), the marine cargo partnership between the Port of Tacoma and the Port of Seattle, announced its partnership with the Republic of Korea, the Busan Port Authority, and the United…

09 Dec 2021

Seattle, Tacoma Ports Plan to Phase Out Maritime Emissions

(Photo: Port of Seattle)

The ports of Seattle, Tacoma and the combined container operations of The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) have adopted near-term implementation plans that guide emission reduction efforts for seaport-related activities.The Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy covers six sectors of port activity: oceangoing vessels, cargo-handling equipment, trucks, harbor vessels, rail and port administration and tenant facilities. The recently adopted implementation plans direct changes in equipment…

06 Oct 2020

Port Everglades Appoints Charlton as Operations Director

Ricardo Charlton (Photo: Port Everglades)

Broward County’s Port Everglades has appointed Ricardo D. Charlton, BSME, FSO, as its new Director of Operations.Port Everglades is a self-supporting enterprise fund of Broward County, Fla., generating more than $170 million in revenues in fiscal year 2019 (October 1, 2018 – September 1, 2019) and is ranked among the nation’s leading container ports and a world leader in the cruise industry.As Director of Operations, Charlton will oversee a workforce of 95 encompassing the Division’s Harbormaster Office…

29 Jul 2020

Port of Seattle Shelves Plans for New Cruise Terminal

(Photo: Port of Seattle)

Plans to develop a new cruise terminal at the Port of Seattle have been derailed by the coronavirus pandemic. The port announced Tuesday it has called off a request for industry proposals for a joint investment to build and operate a proposed new cruise terminal to serve the Alaska market.“Our current focus remains on public health,” said Port of Seattle Executive Director Steve Metruck. “We continue to work with public health partners and cruise stakeholders to determine the enhanced procedures that will make our cruise passenger terminals and facilities safe for the community…

01 Apr 2020

FMC Investigating COVID-19's Suply Chain Impacts

© Mihai Andritoiu / Adobe Stock

The Federal Maritime Commission issued an order authorizing Commissioner Rebecca Dye to identify operational solutions to cargo delivery system challenges related to Coronavirus-19.The Order notes that “Recent global events have only highlighted the economic urgency of responsive port and terminal operations to the effectiveness of the United States international freight delivery system. Given the Commission’s mandate to ensure an efficient and economic transportation system for ocean commerce…

20 Feb 2020

NWSA January Container Volumes Drop

Photo: NWSA

The Northwest Seaport Alliance’s total container volume for January 2020 was 263,816 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a 19.1% decrease from January 2019.Following an unprecedented international container throughput for the same month last year — tied to shippers moving cargo ahead of tariffs, it created a larger than usual gap in the year-over-year figures for January 2020. Imports fell 21.4%, and exports declined 20.5%.The NWSA also continues to monitor developments of the coronavirus outbreak and expects to see negative impacts to the international trade industry…

08 Oct 2019

NWSA Unveils Orca Protection Plan

The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), the cargo operating partnership of the ports of Tacoma and Seattle, has teamed up with Washington State Ferries, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Puget Sound Partnership to identify ways to protect the endangered orca population.The Partnership co-convened a workshop of a broad range of experts and interests to identify ways to reduce underwater noise in effort to support recovery of the endangered population of Southern Resident killer whales.Underwater noise can be harmful to Southern Resident orcas because it impedes their ability to use sonar to hunt prey and communicate.

24 Sep 2019

West Coast Ports Urge Trump to Address Trade War

The six largest West Coast ports — Port of Long Beach, Port of Los Angeles, Port of Oakland, Port of Portland, Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma — sent a letter to President Donald Trump to pursue fair and mutually beneficial trade agreements.The letter highlighted their concerns that the long-term impacts of the escalating trade conflict between China and the United States will create irredeemable economic harm to employers, workers, residents and international partnerships along the West Coast and throughout the entire country.“The chaos of the current trade war is one of the most prominent risks ahead. Exporters are losing market opportunities through increased tariffs on sales to China.

07 Aug 2019

NWSA Terminal 46 Request for Proposals

The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), a marine cargo operating partnership of the ports of Tacoma and Seattle, is now accepting proposals for Terminal 46, a 50-acre deep-water marine terminal.The port authority based in the Puget Sound region of the United States said that the successful proposal will align with and support our goal of growing cargo volumes and creating family-wage jobs in the Puget Sound region, while diversifying the gateway’s overall cargo portfolio.Strategically located on the Seattle waterfront with convenient access to major road and rail infrastructure, this property is uniquely suited for water-dependent uses including marine cargo operations…

07 Apr 2019

ZIM Returns to NWSA North Harbor

The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA ), a marine cargo operating partnership of the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, has welcome the ZIM Ningbo to its North Harbor.Zim Integrated Shipping Services (ZIM) is expanding its presence at the NWSA by joining the 2M trans-Pacific service calling at Terminal 46 in Seattle, it said in a press release.ZIM will have four of its own vessels in the weekly ZP9 service with increased capacity to serve the NWSA gateway. This will be the first regular call of ZIM vessels at the NWSA since the spring of 2017.“We are proud to welcome ZIM back to our family of steamship lines calling at The Northwest Seaport Alliance,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Courtney Gregoire.

14 Jan 2019

Port of Everett Earns Marad Short Sea Shipping Designation

A local barge underway near the port of Everett (CREDIT: port of Everett)

The Port of Everett has achieved another vital step in reducing congestion on the I-5 corridor while moving more freight in the region. The Port was notified this month that it received designation by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation as a Federal Maritime Administration Marine Highway Project for the Puget Sound Container on Barge Service under the America’s Marine Highway Program.The Port is one of 25 marine highway projects in the nation, and the only marine project designation on the West Coast.

20 Jun 2018

NWSA Import Volumes Rise in May 2018

Photo, NWSA imports

May imports at the Northwest Seaport Alliance of Seattle and Tacoma reached their highest level since 2010 this year.At 131,067 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units), import volumes were 0.7 percent above last May's total.Export volumes of 114,227 TEUs marked a 11.2 percent decrease from the prior year, but were still above the five-year average.At 245,294 TEUs, the total international container volumes decreased 5.2 percent over the year, with the May 2017 volumes having been inflated during the launch of the new carrier alliances.

05 Apr 2018

Northwest Seaport Alliance Becomes Greener

Air pollution related to Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) operations has decreased significantly since 2005, according to a regional report released recently. The report is the result of the 2016 Puget Sound Maritime Air Emissions Inventory, which provided an update to the 2005 baseline and 2011 inventories. The inventory estimated greenhouse gases, diesel particulate matter and a number of other pollutants, such as sulfur dioxides and volatile organic compounds. It focused on emissions from ships, harbor vessels, cargo-handling equipment, rail, heavy-duty trucks and other fleet vehicles associated with maritime activities. In 2015, the ports of Tacoma and Seattle launched the NWSA, a partnership to manage their marine cargo facilities and business.

20 Sep 2017

Northwest Seaport Alliance CEO Wolfe Receives 2017 Connie Award

John Wolfe (Photo: The Northwest Seaport Alliance)

John Wolfe, CEO of The Northwest Seaport Alliance, received the 2017 Connie Award presented by the Containerization & Intermodal Institute in Long Beach, Calif., on Tuesday, September 19. Since the formation of the NWSA in August 2015, Wolfe has led the marine cargo operating partnership of the ports of Seattle and Tacoma. “This is an incredible honor for John and The Northwest Seaport Alliance,” said Tom Albro, Port of Seattle commission president and co-chair of The Northwest Seaport Alliance. “John leads through hard work and a well-grounded vision.

22 Mar 2017

Seattle/Tacoma Container Volumes Up 8% for 2017

Photo: Northwest Seaport Alliance

The Northwest Seaport Alliance, consisting of the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, has recorded an 8 percent year-to-date increase in container cargo through February. International container volumes for the month of February remained steady with a 9.1 percent year-to-date increase despite fewer sailings. Compared to same time last year, full export loads saw a 4 percent increase, and import loads were up more than 7 percent for the year. As anticipated, we saw fewer vessel arrivals and amended service schedules by ocean carriers in February due to the Lunar New Year holiday…

09 Jan 2017

Tacoma Preparing for Its Largest Ever Auto Import

Glovis Composer (Photo: Northwest Seaport Alliance)

A roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) vessel carrying a shipment of more than 4,800 vehicles from South Korea is scheduled to arrive January 9 at Tacoma’s Terminal 7, marking the single-largest auto discharge in Port of Tacoma history. At 656 feet long and 106 feet wide, the ship Glovis Composer has a total capacity to transport 6,400 vehicles. During this call, the South Harbor will receive six high and heavy cargoes in addition to 4,818 vehicles to be transported throughout the country as far east as Ohio, according to the Northwest Seaport Alliance.

18 Aug 2016

Northwest Seaport Alliance Witnesses Start of Peak Season

Strong import volumes through The Northwest Seaport Alliance in July suggest peak shipping season is just around the corner, with full imports jumping nearly 12 percent compared to July 2015. Cargo owners are forecasting a 3 to 5 percent increase in volume during peak season, when retailers build up inventories ahead of the holiday shopping season. The alliance recently launched a program to help extend gate hours at international terminals to reduce congestion and keep cargo flowing through the peak. Full export containers followed last month’s trend, surging more than 17 percent month over month on the strength of agricultural products. Total container volumes in July edged up 2 percent month over month.

20 Oct 2016

Seattle’s Terminal 5 Closer to Becoming ‘Big Ship Ready’

Photo: Northwest Seaport Alliance

The Port of Seattle has completed the environmental analysis of Terminal 5 and has prepared the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on the project to modernize the cargo-handling facility in order to serve larger cargo vessels. The proposed upgrades to Terminal 5 are wharf rehabilitation, berth deepening, electrical service and improvements to the upland portions of the property. “Based on public comment we are including a number of improvements, such as shore power for vessels…

23 Nov 2016

Seattle and Tacoma Report Strong October Box Volumes

Port of Seattle image by Don Wilson

The ports of Seattle and Tacoma reported October full load import and export volumes that were the strongest for the month since 2012. Year to date, imports and exports for October continue to support a strong peak season for the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), with an 11 percent increase and 16 percent increase, respectively. To support this peak shipping season’s strong agricultural exports, the NWSA has lengthened the extended gates program through December 2. The main commodities moving through our gateway are hay, forest products, and fruits and vegetables.

02 Dec 2016

World's Largest Single-deck Log Ship Calls Tacoma

Photo: The Northwest Seaport Alliance

The world’s largest single-deck bulk/log carrier, Olive Bay, arrived Thursday at The Northwest Seaport Alliance’s West Hylebos log terminal in Tacoma. The terminal, operated by Seattle-based Merrill & Ring Forest Products, welcomed Pacific Basin Shipping’s Olive Bay, the largest ship in the Chinese log business to call the West Coast. Built in 2015 specifically to carry logs, the ship is 190 meters long and 32 meters wide. It can hold up to 8 million board-feet of logs, which is significantly more than the 5 million-board-foot capacity of most log ships to call Tacoma.