The Port of Tacoma, one of the busiest
- 작성일2004/08/10 14:13
- 조회 2,750
* The Port of Tacoma, one of the busiest ports in the nation *
For shipping companies, that's one of the main differences between the Port of Tacoma and the Port of Portland.
In this tale of two ports, the contrast between them couldn't be greater.
The Port of Tacoma regularly continues to add new pages to its success story.
It is one of the busiest ports in the nation and one of Pierce County's main economic engines.
The Port of Tacoma has obviously benefited from strong management and leadership over the last several years. But it starts with the advantage of an ideal location on commencement Bay, which is easily accessible and deep enough to handle massive container carriers.
In Portland, the story is just the opposite. There, carriers must carefully navigate 100 miles up the Columbia River to reach the port. For shipping companies, time spent traveling upriver is money wasted.
Worse, the shipping channel on the Columbia is relatively shallow - only about 40 feet deep - and may not be able to handle the new generation of oversized carriers. Most carriers that dock at Portland carry smaller loads to reduce the possibility of running aground.
The less-than ideal conditions at the Port of Portland have caused shipping companies to shop around. Hyundai Merchant Marine, one of Tacoma's biggest container shipping customers, recently announced plans to stop operations on Portland on September.
Portland's loss is Tacoma's gain. Hyundai's decision means Tacoma could handle up to 45,000 additional containers a year - a jop - and revenue-generating windfall for the port and the South Sound economy.
But the good news doesn't stop there. Port of Tacoma officials announced earlier this month that trade with Alaska grew at a rate three times greater than normal for the first six months of this year.
It's sometimes easy to take the Port of Tacoma for granted, in part because of its consistent record of growth and success and its low-key approach to business. But it's a powerful economic juggernaut, one that supports thousands of good jobs and strengthens the economy in Pierce County and throughout the South Sound region.
For shipping companies, that's one of the main differences between the Port of Tacoma and the Port of Portland.
In this tale of two ports, the contrast between them couldn't be greater.
The Port of Tacoma regularly continues to add new pages to its success story.
It is one of the busiest ports in the nation and one of Pierce County's main economic engines.
The Port of Tacoma has obviously benefited from strong management and leadership over the last several years. But it starts with the advantage of an ideal location on commencement Bay, which is easily accessible and deep enough to handle massive container carriers.
In Portland, the story is just the opposite. There, carriers must carefully navigate 100 miles up the Columbia River to reach the port. For shipping companies, time spent traveling upriver is money wasted.
Worse, the shipping channel on the Columbia is relatively shallow - only about 40 feet deep - and may not be able to handle the new generation of oversized carriers. Most carriers that dock at Portland carry smaller loads to reduce the possibility of running aground.
The less-than ideal conditions at the Port of Portland have caused shipping companies to shop around. Hyundai Merchant Marine, one of Tacoma's biggest container shipping customers, recently announced plans to stop operations on Portland on September.
Portland's loss is Tacoma's gain. Hyundai's decision means Tacoma could handle up to 45,000 additional containers a year - a jop - and revenue-generating windfall for the port and the South Sound economy.
But the good news doesn't stop there. Port of Tacoma officials announced earlier this month that trade with Alaska grew at a rate three times greater than normal for the first six months of this year.
It's sometimes easy to take the Port of Tacoma for granted, in part because of its consistent record of growth and success and its low-key approach to business. But it's a powerful economic juggernaut, one that supports thousands of good jobs and strengthens the economy in Pierce County and throughout the South Sound region.