More than 200 people gathered at the Port of Tacoma yesterday to celebrate the grand opening of the Olympic Container Terminal (OCT), the third major terminal to open at the Port this year.
The newly renovated, 54-acre facility, located on the Sitcum Waterway and the site formerly known as Terminal 7, will serve four sister ships of the Taiwan-based Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation.
The site was once home to K Line, which moved to the new Husky Terminal in July. When Yang Ming Line and the Port signed a long-term lease agreement in December 2004, conditions of that agreement called for the Port to refurbish Terminal 7 in order to expand the terminal from 33 acres to 54 acres, demolish two alumina domes and integrate acreage into the expanded terminal, remove a portion of an adjacent warehouse, adding additional terminal space, remodel existing marine terminal administration buildings, reconfigure facility entrance and truck gates, complete perimeter and security enhancements, remove thousands of tons of asphalt and re-pave 54 terminal acres, reconfigure the facility for straddle carrier operations.
Though construction, which cost the Port $18.7 million, started in April and is scheduled to be completed Nov. 1, Yang Ming has operated out of the terminal since July.
During a tour of the terminal moments before a celebration to mark its opening, Port Communications Manager Mike Wasem described the short turn-around time associated with relocating K Line while completing renovations to the terminal.
It took a lot of creativity to operate the terminal while construction was taking place, said Wasem.
The Port scheduled construction activity around its customers cargo handling activity. And contractors sequenced their work in seven defined work zones in order to coordinate renovation activities that were agreeable to other business partners, including Husky, Marine Terminals Corporation, and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 23
According to Wasem, one challenge was assessing the condition of the terminal’s paved areas while containers filled the facility. This left a three-week period between Husky’s vacation in early June and the arrival of Yang Ming Line in July to fully evaluate the asphalt conditions of the terminal.
The new terminal has four cranes, 300 plugs for refrigerated containers, one berth, and on-dock rail access. In addition, the site is located just a few miles from Interstate 5 and other major highways.
During the grand opening ceremony, which included a traditional Lion Dance, meant to bestow good fortune at the new terminal, C. C. Wu, President of Yang Ming America, commented, As the gateway to the Pacific Northwest, the Port of Tacoma is ideal for Yang Ming Line. This terminals direct access to an on-dock intermodal network, high terminal productivity, and its berthing specifications are well suited for our vessels. This terminal will help us meet increased service demands between Asia and the U.S. West Coast while providing our customers the convenience of a major distribution center and gateway port. Yang Ming is confident that our relationship with the Port of Tacoma will prove beneficial to long-term commitments.
As a major gateway port, we know the importance of keeping cargo on the move for our customers, said Port of Tacoma Commission President R. Ted Bottiger. This terminal, together with the capabilities of the North Intermodal Yard and Tacoma’s productive longshore workforce, will do just that — keep Yang Ming Line’s cargo moving.
Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation was founded in 1972 and is one of the world’s leading container transportation companies. Based in Keelung, Taiwan, Yang Ming’s operating fleet includes full-container ships, bulk carriers, ore/coal carriers and supertankers.
In addition to the OCT opening yesterday and the Husky Terminal opening in July, the Port also opened the Pierce County Terminal for Evergreen Marine in January.
