The Port of Tacoma could soon upgrade the equipment it uses to move containers by spending $6 million on five new straddle carriers.

According to staff, the port currently has 27 straddle carriers in its fleet, including eight that are more than 20 years old. The new straddle carriers the port plans to purchase are manufactured by Kalmar and consistent with the Port’s existing fleet. The new equipment will replace four straddle carriers that are at the end of their lifecycle and one that was damaged in an accident. The new equipment would arrive at the port by the end of this year.

The Port of Tacoma Commission is scheduled Thursday to vote on whether to direct staff to begin negotiations with Cargotec for the purchase of the equipment. In addition, commissioners will also consider design work for a stormwater treatment system at the West Hylebos log yard, and receive a progress report on developing a Land Use and Transportation Plan to support the port’s 2012-2022 Strategic Plan.

The commission meeting will be held on Thurs., March 14 at noon in Room 104 of The Fabulich Center, located at 3600 Port of Tacoma Road. Meetings are available live and on demand on the port’s Web site.