A series of three agreements approved by the Port of Tacoma Commission Oct. 1 highlight a revised plan for NYK Line ships to call in Tacoma beginning July 2012.

Although NYK had planned to come to a proposed new, 168-acre terminal on the Blair Waterway, its ships instead will call at APM Terminals (APMT) on the Sitcum Waterway.

According to the agreements, NYK and its terminal operating subsidiary, Yusen Terminal Tacoma, Inc. (YTTI), will operate in Tacoma in a partnership with APMT without taking on a large commitment in excess capacity; APMT realizes additional business at its facility through a partnership with NYK and YTTI; and the Port maximizes the use of existing facilities without investing major capital.

In 2007, the Port of Tacoma announced plans for NYK Line, a world-class shipping line from Japan, to operate its own marine container terminal in Tacoma beginning July 2012. Since that announcement, the Port began design work, environmental analysis and the permitting process to relocate the existing Totem Ocean Trailer Express terminal, build a new terminal for NYK Line, and improve roads, rail and utilities to support the redevelopment on the Blair-Hylebos Peninsula.

As design advanced in 2008, it became clear that the cost of the new terminal development would exceed initial projections. The deteriorating global economy also would significantly delay the need for new capacity. The Port and NYK began seeking alternative solutions.