Doug Ljungren News

The Port of Tacoma's North Intermodal Yard (NIM) handled a record 7,312 intermodal lifts (transfers of containers between ship and rail) from February 8-14. The yard, which serves Evergreen Marine Corp. (Taiwan) and "K" Line (Japan), is opening 2003 like it closed 2002. lockout. percent. direct-China service to Tacoma. Port's new computerized intermodal management system. carrier operation in the Western United States. start construction later this year. the second all-straddle carrier operation on the West Coast. delayed in the wake of the October 2002 labor lockout. Manager. to increase by 5 percent. Ljungren concluded.

Following a record-breaking year, container volumes at Port of Tacoma continue to grow rapidly. Through the end of May, the Port's total container throughput is 28 percent ahead of the same period in 2002 -- more than double the average growth at other West Coast ports (roughly 13 percent). "These numbers are remarkable," said Andrea Riniker, the Port's Executive Director. "All 2003 projections pointed to moderate growth after last year's record volumes, but our throughput has never slowed, and we continue to set weekly records for intermodal lifts as we build for another record-breaking year. All of our international carriers have posted significant increases in container throughput.