NWSA to invest $55m in cranes, terminal improvements

The Northwest Seaport Alliance, which comprises the seaports of Seattle and Tacoma, has approved a $52 million purchase of four container cranes, plus an additional $2.9 million in terminal improvements.

   The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), the entity that runs the Seattle and Tacoma seaports’ marine cargo operations, on Tuesday approved the purchase of four new container cranes for $52 million, plus an additional $2.9 million in marine terminal improvements.
   The newly-approved cranes would supplement four others already on order for Husky Terminal in the South Harbor, while the terminal improvements would take place at the Terminal 18 container yard in the North Harbor and the West Hylebos Log Yard and Pierce County Terminal in the South Harbor.
   “These improvements will help us serve our customers better and continue to create the trade-related jobs so vital to our state,” Northwest Seaport Alliance Co-Chair Dick Marzano said.
   The new cranes, to be built by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co. (ZPMC) in China, would be capable of serving ultra-large container vessels with an outreach of 24 containers and a lift height of 165 feet above the pier deck, according to the NWSA.
   At Husky Terminal, construction is underway to renovate Pier 4 to align it with Pier 3 and create a contiguous 2,960-foot berth. The improvements would allow two 18,000-TEU ships to dock at the same time, and also include infrastructure for future shore power that would allow ships to plug into electricity while at dock.
   Terminal construction and the delivery and installation of four initial cranes are estimated to be finished in 2018. The four additional cranes are expected to arrive in 2019.
   Additional improvements approved by the port alliance include enhancement of a log yard and Terminal 18 docks, and a building at the Pierce County Terminal intermodal yard.
   “These investments in Terminal 18 continue to make this one of our best cargo-handling assets,” Port of Seattle Commissioner Stephanie Bowman said.
   Future improvements at Terminal 5 in the North Harbor are also in the works, according to the NWSA.