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.
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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