CORPS OF ENGINEERS APPROVES PORT OF TACOMA PIER EXTENSION

CORPS OF ENGINEERS APPROVES PORT OF TACOMA PIER EXTENSION    The Port of Tacoma said Wednesday it has received permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a pier extension at the Maersk Pacific Limited Terminal on Sitcum Waterway.
   The permits allow the port to extend the pier by an additional 600 feet to 2,200 feet, in order to simultaneously handle Maersk Sealand's big 6,600-TEU containerships and smaller ships operated by CSX Lines in the Alaska trade.
   Currently, Maersk Sealand's big 1,138-foot-long vessels have to be repositioned during loading and unloading operations, reducing the terminal's effectiveness.
   The project is expected to cost $8 million to $9.5 million.
   The port has already ordered 340 large concrete pilings for the pier extension. Bids on the pier extension project will be opened May 2 and pile driving is expected to start in July, with the project to be completed by the end of the year.