Watco acquires Port of Catoosa stevedoring facility

The terminal and port services provider subsidiary of Watco Cos. has also signed a deal with the Port of Catoosa for sole operation of the main dock at the Oklahoma marine port, the company said in a statement.    Watco Transloading, a subsidiary of Watco Cos., has acquired a stevedoring and transloading facility at the Port of Catoosa, along with a long-term operating agreement with the port for exclusive operation of the Oklahoma port’s main dock, the company said in a statement.
   Although financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed, Watco acquired the facility from Tuloma Stevedoring, Inc, rebranding it as Watco Terminal & Port Services.
   The multi-modal barge and rail-served facility handles break bulk and project cargoes from Oklahoma and Tulsa-based industries such as pipe, steel coils, and plate. The facility can transload, store and deliver cargoes originally transported via barge, rail or truck, Watco said. It includes a 200-ton crane, an open storage yard, a 48,000 sq. ft. warehouse, and 28 railcar spots with access to BNSF and Watco’s South Kanasas and Oklahoma railroads. 
   “We’re excited to add this facility to our river network and look forward to working with the Port on growing this business and continuing to serve Oklahoma and Tulsa based industry,” said Assistant Vice President of Operations Ralph Fielder.
   Watco Transloading operates as Watco Terminal and Port Services, with 88 terminal facilities in North America. Parent company Watco Cos. also owns Watco Transportation, a short-line railroad holding company with 37 short-line railroads and 33 industrial contract switching locations. Watco Cos. is a 50/50 joint venture partner with The Greenbrier Companies, Inc., in GBW Railcar Services, LLC. GBW repairs and refurbishes freight cars at 35 locations across North America