Photo credit: Port of Seattle image by Don Wilson
business backgrounder | economy
A crane operator has a birds-eye view of operations at BNSF’s Seattle International Gateway.
infrastructure hurdles
Giant vessels up to 19,000 TEU (20-foot equivalent units) are
changing the global shipping game. “Megaships twice as big
as just a few years ago require terminals with larger cranes,
stronger berths, more backlands and road and rail infrastructure to handle the larger influxes of cargo,” says Wolfe.
Both Seattle and Tacoma ports need to invest in infrastructure updates to welcome these megaships, but harsh
competition has slowed infrastructure improvements that
would enable ports to accommodate more volume, a trend
Bowman hopes the Seaport Alliance will reverse. Currently,
the Port of Seattle can accommodate 13-14,000 TEUs, says
Bowman. “With prices so low, it’s difficult for the ports to make
the investments in infrastructure that our customers need.”
The Seaport Alliance would also put the ports in a stronger position to advocate for road and rail investments to
benefit customers; the commissions have long pushed for
investments in state routes 167 and 509 in Pierce and King
counties. “We want to provide our customers with viable
options to a crowded I-5,” says Bowman. “This will give us
a more powerful voice in being able to say, ‘Here’s what’s at
stake if we don’t invest in infrastructure.’”
The ports are stronger together, says Wolfe. “The Seaport
Alliance will allow us to plan and prioritize infrastructure
investments to match customer needs with state-of-the-art
“The marine gateways in Tacoma and Seattle
support 48,000 local jobs and generate
nearly $4.3 billion in economic activity.”
— John Wolfe, Port of Tacoma CEO
facilities. It also will give us a more powerful voice as the
third-largest container gateway, as we advocate for road
and rail infrastructure and reform of the federal Harbor
Maintenance Tax.”
“Our members understand that a more competitive Pacific
Northwest gateway in the long term will provide more options
for both terminal operators and ocean carriers and better serve
the region’s economy,” says Moore.
Bottom line: The Seaport
Alliance will enable the
region to compete for cargo
Port of Tacoma Cargo Stats:
growth and continue as a
bit.ly/1H2hstZ
leader in global trade, says
Wolfe. “The result is that our
Port of Seattle Seaport Alliance:
economy continues to enjoy
bit.ly/SeaportAlliance
a full range of good-paying
job opportunities.”
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