Small Steps, Big Strides
With cargo volumes down, equipment shortages and high fuel costs at ports nationwide, it's easy to be pessimistic about the future. But despite the challenges the maritime and transportation industries face, here in Seattle we're well positioned for growth when business rebounds. And it will rebound.
The Port and its partners in the public and private sectors have taken a number of small but important steps that represent big strides when viewed in total.
By mid-2009, when Terminal 30 re-opens as a container handling facility, the Port will have expanded and rebuilt all of its container terminals over a period of about 13 years. While other ports are implementing large, costly capital improvement programs and issuing bonds to finance projects in a troubled market, the Port of Seattle has the capacity to nearly double its container volumes with relatively minor additional investments. These expansion projects paved the way for the recent announcement by China Shipping that it will expand its operations in Seattle (see story below).
Our terminal operators have made their own investments too, bringing in rubber-tired gantry cranes to increase throughput and implementing new technologies and operational changes to improve efficiency.
The city, county and state have joined the Port in making improvements to our road connections, creating what is arguably the best interstate access of any West Coast port. When the SR 519 project is completed in late 2010 or early 2011, it will eliminate at-grade rail crossings, increase freight capacity on Atlantic Street and improve access between the Port's marine terminals and interstates 5 and 90. The East Marginal Way grade separation project, with an estimated completion date in mid-2010, will separate road and rail traffic south of the Port's cargo terminals and improve access to the warehouse district in south Seattle and the Kent Valley, where more than half of all of the warehouse and distribution space in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties is located.
The Class I railroads serving our harbor also have invested in the region's future as a trade and transportation gateway. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway has nearly doubled its capacity (see story below) and the Union Pacific Railroad is exploring ways to increase capacity in the region. Both railroads have helped fund road/rail grade separation projects, as well.
These are tough times for our industry, but with continued cooperation and foresight the Port and its partners will prosper well into the future.
(From left to right - John Hemingway, SSA Marine; Li Shaode, China Shipping Group Shanghai; and Tay Yoshitani, Port of Seattle)
 In April, China Shipping Lines and SSA Terminals announced that the carrier will begin calling at the Port of Seattle 's newly reconfigured Terminal 30 when the facility opens in mid-2009. Under the terms of the agreement, China Shipping Terminals USA will be an equity partner with SSA Terminals (Seattle), which will lease and operate the terminal.
“We are pleased to further perfect our gateway in Seattle to offer our best service to all of our customers by strengthening the cooperation with the Port of Seattle and our partner SSA Terminals,” said Mr. Li Shaode, President of China Shipping Group Shanghai . “I am sure that this cooperation will be beneficial to all parties, including our import and export customers and labor in the Port.”
China Shipping began calling at the Port in 1999. The carrier handles nearly 100,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually in Seattle.
“We are very pleased that China Shipping has chosen to call at Terminal 30,” said Port Commission President John Creighton. “It is especially gratifying for a current customer to increase its investment and presence here. We are honored by the confidence they have shown in the Port of Seattle.”
The Port is investing $120 million in creating a state-of-the-art container facility at Terminal 30 and relocating cruise facilities to Terminal 91. The 1,500-foot berth at T-30 will accommodate vessels carrying as many as 8,000 TEUs. The terminal also will feature a new truck gate designed to minimize congestion and idling.
“The Port is making a significant investment at Terminal 30 and we are very pleased to have a partner the caliber of China Shipping Lines calling at the facility,” said Port CEO Tay Yoshitani. “China Shipping shares our mission of creating economic vitality and we are fortunate to serve them. I am especially proud that with this new facility China Shipping will be positioned to increase the volume of containers they handle through the Port of Seattle.
China Shipping will move from Terminal 18, shown above, to Terminal 30 when the new facility opens in mid-2009.
 Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) began using four wide-span, electric, rail-mounted gantry cranes at its Seattle International Gateway (SIG) intermodal yard in April. The cranes, manufactured by Kone, will help BNSF increase capacity at the facility and dramatically reduce air emissions.
“The installation of these wide-span cranes has nearly doubled the capacity at our SIG facility and reduces our impact on the environment while supporting the growth of international commerce at the Port of Seattle ,” said Mike Burke, Assistant Vice President, BNSF Intermodal Hub Operations.
The cranes span three tracks and have the capability to stack containers and load and unload trucks and railcars. Along with providing additional capacity, they have increased SIG yard throughput by about 30 percent.
The cranes produce zero emissions, are quieter than the equipment they replaced and can regenerate power each time they lower a load. Their wide stance also reduces truck moves, reducing fuel use and emissions.
“The North SIG Yard is an impressive facility and it represents the type of development that we and our partners are pursuing to increase our overall competitiveness,” said Port of Seattle Commission President John Creighton . “BNSF is increasing cargo capacity and assisting the Port in creating economic development for the region, and doing it in an environmentally friendly way.”
4 Elements Logistics, based in Germantown, Tenn., has opened a facility in the Seattle area. 4E is a third-partly logistics provider that offers less-than-truckload, full-truckload and intermodal services from its offices at 14900 Interurban Avenue South in Tukwila. 4E has 10 offices across the country.
The Tukwila office is staffed by Nick Ballard, Branch Manager and Ben Holcomb, Logistics Manager. “As a non-asset based company we're able to view the supply chain through the eyes of the customer,” Ballard said. “Many third-party logistics companies have assets that they manage, and part of that management involves offering solutions that fit their needs rather than the customers needs. Our goal is to offer the customer a program and solution that fits requirements, either through our proprietary operating systems or through our partners' programs.”
4E has strategic alliances with providers of domestic truckload, intermodal, LTL, warehouse, supply chain/inventory management, NVOCC, international consolidation, freight forwarding and air freight services.
The company's expansion follows its purchase in January by New York-based Vision Capital Advisors, LLC, a fundamentals-oriented, long-term investor with over $600 million under management.
“4E has demonstrated unusually strong growth and has an exceptional team of proven professionals,” said Christopher Wall of Vision Capital Advisors. “The company has tremendous market opportunity. We see a strongly capitalized 4E as a solid play in the logistics space and we anticipate stronger than average growth.”
Learn more at http://www.4elogistics.com/
| Cargo |
YTD February 2008 |
Change |
| Total TEUs |
741,822 |
-4.8% |
| International TEUs |
601,244 |
-6.1% |
| Domestic TEUs |
140,578 |
+1.3% |
| Grain Metric Tons |
2,900,921 |
+19.9% |
| Petroleum |
384,365 |
+5.5% |
| Molasses |
21,744 |
+17.0% |
The national deadline for TWIC implementation has been extended to April 15, 2009, although local Coast Guard port captains have discretion to implement TWIC sooner with a 90-day notice. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recommends pre-enrollment on their secure Web site. With pre-enrollment, participants schedule an appointment to complete the enrollment process at the center. Visit TSA's site for more information and a list of valid documents required.
Construction season swings into high gear
In the next few months, both the City of Seattle and the Washington State Department of Transportation will begin a series of construction projects in the harbor area. These include:
- Early utility relocation for the Alaskan Way Viaduct Project, which will require minor changes in access to BNSF's North Seattle International Gateway (SIG) rail yard on South Colorado Avenue;
- Widening of the intersection of South Atlantic Street and First Avenue South , improving the connection between the freeway system and Terminal 46;
- Relocation of a water main, closing east-bound lower South Spokane Street between First and Sixth Avenue South for all but local access; and
- Repaving projects along First Avenue South between East Marginal Way and South Spokane Street , and between South Stacey Street and Dearborn Street.
Port staff has been working with City and WSDOT staff to minimize the impacts on Port-related truck traffic. The freight community is encouraged to stay apprised of developments. An easy option is to sign up for regular e-mail updates at the following Web sites: http://www.sodotraffic.com/alerts.htm and http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/freightlist.htm.
Sporting and Special Events
Mariner Baseball at Safeco Field
Stadium Exhibition Center Events
(206) 381-7555
Other Port Events
Check the Port of Seattle Events page for a listing of upcoming events.
Audio recordings and live streaming video of Commission meetings are available on the Port’s Web site, along with news releases of key actions and agendas for upcoming meetings. You can watch recorded Commission meetings Sundays at 1 p.m. on King County TV (Digital Cable 22).
What year did China become the Port of Seattle 's overall number one trading partner by dollar value? A winner, selected at random from among all of the correct answers to the question, will receive a gift from the Port. E-mail your answer.
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