Oregon funding plan gives millions for Portland container crane

Oregon funding plan gives millions for Portland container crane    The Port of Portland announced Wednesday that it has received $7.5 million from ConnectOregon, the state's first major funding initiative targeted at multimodal or non-highway transportation, toward the purchase and installation of a post-Panamax container crane — the port's fourth such crane.
   The funding is part of $100 million worth of projects designated by Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski and state legislators.
   The port said that studies have shown the availability of container vessel service at its Terminal 6 facility saves regional shippers $381 per container in inland transportation costs compared to shipping containers through Washington or California ports.
   'This fourth crane will play an important role in helping us attract and retain container shipping lines,' said Port Executive Director Bill Wyatt. 'We're working with a number of shipping lines who currently bring or are interested in bringing post-Panamax ships to Portland. With a fourth crane, we're increasing Portland's attractiveness to these shipping lines on an exponential scale because we can work one ship with four cranes or accommodate two post-Panamax ships at a time.'
   The Port's new crane, delivery, spare parts and installation will cost approximately $10 million. The Port will pay for all additional costs beyond the $7.5 million ConnectOregon funding. The Port estimates delivery could be as soon as 2008.