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Port Of Tacoma 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…

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…

04 May 2021

New LNG Bunker Barge Planned for Port of Tacoma

Puget Sound Energy’s LNG Terminal in the Port of Tacoma (Photo: GAC)

Puget LNG and GAC Bunker Fuels have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) marine fuel from Puget LNG’s terminal to GAC’s customers in the Pacific Northwest.When the Tacoma LNG Terminal becomes operational in the second quarter of 2021, it will be the first such terminal on North America’s west coast providing direct shoreside loading access for a bunker barge.GAC Bunker Fuels, a division of the Dubai-based GAC Group, will issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a Jones Act-compliant LNG bunker barge to be constructed…

11 Mar 2021

SAFE Boats to Reopen Tacoma Shipyard for Naval Build Program

(Photo: SAFE Boats)

U.S. shipbuilder SAFE Boats International will reopen its Tacoma, Wash. facility following the award of a $20 million lead contract for the U.S. Navy to start construction of the Mark VI patrol boats headed for the government of Ukraine.The U.S. Navy announced in January it had awarded SAFE Boats a portion of the contract to purchase long-lead material and associated pre-production and planning support with the remaining $80 million award anticipated in June.SAFE Boats’ Tacoma…

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…

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.

10 Oct 2018

AWIA/WRDA Overwhelmingly Passes in Senate

File Image: AdobeStock / © SunnyS

Bill now heads to White House for President Trump’s signature.Today, the Senate voted 99-1 in favor of America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018/Water Resources Development Act, otherwise known as WRDA 2018. The Bill passed in the U.S. House by unanimous voice vote (435-0) in August.“The passage of WRDA 2018 is a win for the Nation’s towboat operators, freight shippers, ports and labor and conservation groups that rely on an efficient inland waterways system,” said Mike Toohey, President and CEO of the Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI).

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.

21 Apr 2017

Seattle/Tacoma Box Volumes Rise in March

(Photo: The Northwest Seaport Alliance)

Total domestic and international container volumes at the Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma increased by more than 14 percent for the month of March, and year-to-date volumes were up 10 percent. March international container volumes performed strongly post-Lunar New Year. At 120,018 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units), full imports grew almost 26 percent compared to March 2016. At 99,603 TEUs, full exports were up more than 9 percent in March, making it the strongest month for exports this year.

05 Apr 2017

APM Could Exit Tacoma

APM Terminals Tacoma has received notification from Matson, Inc., its main customer, that Matson does not intend to renew its current terminal services agreement after its expiration on December 31, 2017. Accordingly, APM Terminals is evaluating all options with respect to its existing terminal lease, which is currently set to expire on December 31, 2017. The terminal, with 12 employees, became part of the Maersk Group portfolio with the acquisition of US-based Sea-Land Service by Maersk Line in 2000. The 600,000 TEU annual throughput capacity facility was used primarily by the Matson Alaska Service, with twice-weekly sailings between Tacoma, Anchorage and Kodiak, and a weekly service between Tacoma and Dutch Harbor, handling approximately 190,000 TEUs in 2016.

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.

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…

27 Sep 2016

Pile Driving Begins for Tacoma’s Pier 4 Upgrade

Photo: Northwest Seaport Alliance

Manson Construction of Seattle has begun driving the first of 1,241 piles to align Pier 4 with an adjacent pier to create one contiguous berth capable of serving two 18,000-TEU container ships within the Port of Tacoma. The upgrade will help the port support larger container cranes and vessels. The pier is expected to be completed in 2018.

02 Aug 2016

New Plan Would Make Seattle One of US’ Deepest Ports

Photo: Port of Seattle

A new report published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in partnership with the Port of Seattle outlines a plan that would make the port one of the deepest harbors in North America. Within the Seattle Harbor Navigation Improvement Project Draft Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment, the two parties have outlined a tentatively selected plan that would deepen the East and West Waterways to 57 feet Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW), enabling the port to handle the current and future generations of ultra-large containerships.

29 Feb 2016

CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin Calls Seattle

CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin (Photo: Northwest Seaport Alliance)

Largest cargo vessel to visit U.S. The largest cargo ship to visit the United States, the CMA CMG Benjamin Franklin, arrived Monday at The Northwest Seaport Alliance’s Terminal 18 in Seattle. The Benjamin Franklin has capacity for 18,000 20-foot equivalent container units (TEUs), more than double the cargo of most container ships calling at Northwest Seaport Alliance terminals. If laid end-to-end, the 18,000 TEUs would stretch from Tacoma to Everett, a distance of about 68 miles.

26 Feb 2016

Piggybacking Across the Atlantic

The Alfa Romeo, an open-sea racing yacht is lifted out of the water onto the Milan Express (Photo: Hapag-Llod)

In addition to standard containers, Hapag-Lloyd also transports special cargo that cannot be containerized. Among others, ships and yachts "piggyback" on board container ships. Each year, Hapag-Lloyd’s fleet transports several million containers over the world’s seas. But, on top of that, the vessels also take on board special cargo that doesn’t fit inside standardized steel boxes. Among the most spectacular of these objects are other ships and yachts that “piggyback,” so to speak, on board the massive container vessels as they make their journey.

08 Feb 2016

Containership Detained in Tacoma for Safety Violations

The 685-foot Liberian-flagged containership Westwood Robson is being held in port after significant safety violations were discovered by Port State Control officers from U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound during an inspection at the Husky Terminal in the Port of Tacoma, Thursday. The inspection revealed excessive oil in the bilge holding area, oil-soaked lagging present throughout machinery spaces and clogged oil drains, creating a significant risk of fire, the Coast Guard said. Mechanical issues included deteriorated fittings that contributed to oil and coolant leaks as well as inoperable oil purifiers. The vessel and crew must are required to stay in port until the deficiencies have been corrected to the satisfaction of Coast Guard inspectors and the Classification Society.

20 Jan 2016

Ports America Refocuses, Oakland Lease Goes

Ports America, the largest stevedore and terminal operating company in the United States, is refocusing its business strategies on the West Coast through additional investments and expansion of services into new terminals. Areas of concentration include Los Angeles, Long Beach, the Pacific Northwest and western Canada. These regions have been identified as most suited to its realignment goals. Ports America’s long-standing joint venture partnership at West Basin Container Terminal (WBCT) and its recently acquired 30 percent ownership of International Transportation Services (ITS) are key locations for Ports America’s strategy. Accordingly…

02 Oct 2015

MARAD to Fund Study on LNG Conversions

Midnight Sun will be converted to dual fuel LNG propulsion starting in December 2015 (Photo: TOTE)

The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced it has entered a $900,000 cooperative agreement with Totem Ocean Trailer Express Inc. (TOTE) to study the costs and benefits of converting vessel to liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion. Under the agreement, TOTE who is to convert its containership MV Midnight Sun to operate on dual fuel LNG, will work with MARAD to obtain pre- and post-conversion air emissions data, as well as operational information. According to MARAD, the…

10 Aug 2015

Vessel Size, Alliances Up Pressure On US Ports -Fitch

Photo: Port of Portland

The rise of alliances among shipping carriers and industry moves toward post-Panamax and ultra large cargo ships are pressuring many U.S. ports to address access restrictions. The widening of the Panama Canal, slated to open in 2016, will further intensify the need to accommodate larger ships. Some regional ports that serve secondary markets and are unable to process larger vessels risk losing some services or being skipped completely, Fitch Ratings says. The combined impact of the shift to larger vessels and carrier alliances is giving shippers significant negotiating leverage over ports.