Washington Business Spring 2017 | Washington Business | Page 46

doing business as Tidewater Transportation & Terminals Tidewater has operated in the waterways of the Pacific Northwest for 85 years, linking the ports and products of this region with customers around the world. founded: 1932 headquarters: Vancouver, Washington about the company: Tidewater is the largest inland marine barge transportation provider west of the Mississippi River, handling approximately 85 percent of the waterborne cargo passing through the locks and dams of the upper Columbia/Snake River (CSR). Tidewater operates terminals in Pasco, Vancouver, and Wilma, as well as Boardman and Umatilla, Oregon. It transports a wide range of commodities, including grain, refined petroleum products, ethanol, fertilizer, wood products and cargo containers. green fleet: Tidewater’s barge service is a critical part of the regional surface transportation system that helps offset rail and highway congestion. Its fleet includes 16 towboats, several which have been repowered with new diesel engines, and 150 barges. In addition to the tugboat repowers, Tidewater completed converting all of its active petroleum barges to double-hull, six years prior to the deadline mandated by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. back story: Eighty-five years ago, Tidewater helped pioneer commercial transportation on the CSR and opened up one of the nation’s most isolated regions (referred to as the “Inland Empire”) to the markets of the world. It began in 1932 with Lew Russell, Sr., who became interested in the river transportation of industrial commodities and began renting steam-powered sternwheeler ships to move customer products from port to port. In 1960, Tidewater became a full-fledged, independent tug and barge transportation company under the name of Tidewater Barges Lines, and has been growing ever since. 46 association of washington business family of companies: At present, Tidewater Holdings is partnered with Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners, and is comprised of Tidewater Barge Lines, Tidewater Terminal Company, and since 2014, Tidewater Environmental Services, Inc. Tidewater Barge Lines remains the largest agricultural CSR transporter, as well as the sole provider of upriver petroleum and liquid fertilizer transportation. Tidewater Terminal Company uses key intermodal connections to railroads, highways and pipelines to most efficiently transport products. Tidewater’s Environmental Services serves the marine and industrial business markets by providing on and offshore cleaning and waste transportation services. how’s business? Tidewater is growing through expansion of its core business — moving commodities up and down the river for longstanding clients — and through acquisitions. The emphasis on trans- loading from railroads to barge continues, with several completed and pending projects bringing more volumes to the river. The company is diversifying by purchasing two companies (West Coast Marine, and the grain business from Columbia Metal Works), with larger acquisitions brewing. words of wisdom: “It’s people that make a business, and we’re fortunate at Tidewater to have some of the most skilled, dedicated, thoughtful, and caring people in the industry that are serving our clients.” — Bob Curcio, CEO, Tidewater Transportation & Terminals — Brian Mittge