WEST COAST PORTS\\\ >> 10


voyage from their origin


port prior to reaching National City Marine Terminal. “We had expected a significant drop in automobile


import volumes


from Asia and Europe,” admits Borossay. “While volumes were down, it wasn’t as severe as expected. “ Borossay


reports recent


improvements at the port include the demolition of two outdated transit sheds at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal. “The demolition is part of the Port’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal Modernization Plan and supports the Port of San Diego’s specialty cargo advantage by providing laydown space and flexibility for each cargo type,” he explains. The plan envisions three


distinct cargo nodes within the existing footprint of the terminal and is focused on current core specialties of project, roll-on/ roll-off, and break-bulk cargo such as military equipment, wind energy parts, shipbuilding steel, and vehicles; refrigerated containers for fresh produce such as bananas


or other


produce; and dry bulk cargo such as soda ash, aggregate and cement. Borossay says the project’s first phase was completed in June 2020. Future phases of the plan


include increasing dry bulk storage capacity, which may include a new, 100,000 sq.- ſt. dry bulk structure or an equivalent vertical storage facility. Addressing


green projects


at the port, Borossay notes through use of technology, the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal


modernization


project will also contribute to cleaner operations at the terminal, enabling it to emit fewer of certain types of harmful pollutants. He says future phases of the project include acquisition of 36 pieces of zero and near-zero emissions


freight equipment


and installing the best available control technology to the bulk unloader and conveyor system.


Port of Stockton


Historically, trade at the Port of Stockton has been with Asia (Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China). Pete Grossgart,


The Port of Stockton is a major deep-water inland port located more than 70 nautical miles from the ocean on a deepwater shipping channel. (Port of Stockton photo.)


Chinese goods the port has handled over the past few years is now sourced in Southeast Asia (Vietnam,


Malaysia,


Indonesia). “European


trade has


remained fairly steady, and Canadian/Mexican trade hasn’t been a large portion of our trade historically, though there are projects underway,” he adds. Grossgart


notes cargo


volumes were down roughly 9.4% from 2019 (and 15% from 2018).


“It seems unlikely that


COVID was a major cause of the cargo decline, but perhaps COVID delayed some projects,” concedes Grossgart. “I think tariffs on steel and cement are the likely cause though cement picked up significantly when alternate sources were identified.” The port is engaged in a long-


term rail strategic planning process to further develop rail capacity. “The port also wants to be in a position to attract future opportunities that seem more and more to be heavily reliant on rail,” Grossgart explains. “There are projects to replace some aging rail infrastructure and to build a flyover in order to eliminate a congested grade crossing. The outlook for rail at the port is very strong, and it’s important to ensure that rail capacity doesn’t limit our growth.” The port has a wide range of


environmental programs that range from using clean sand/ dredge material to rebuild dunes home to endangered butterflies and insects to installing 16 owl boxes for breeding pairs. The owl population keeps down the rodent population, reducing the port’s usage of pesticides and protecting the levies. The port is only the third in California to be certified as a part of the Green Marine program and is a partner in program sponsored by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to replace the port’s fleet of forkliſts with electric equipment.


Marketing


Manager, maintains that while trade with Japan and Korea remains strong, much of the


Washington Seaports


Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA)


Issue 1 2021 - FBJNA The Northwest Seaport


Alliance, which comprises the seaports of Seattle and Tacoma, makes it the third largest cargo port in the United States and by container volume. “Because China is the primary


import and export market for ports on the West Coast, the trade war with China has had a disproportionate impact on our cargo volumes,” explains Melanie Stambaugh, NWSA spokesperson. “Importers


11


have been diversifying supply chains over time to include manufacturing and sourcing from other South East Asian countries, in addition to China. Tariffs, and now the COVID-19 pandemic,


have drastically


accelerated that trend.” The geographic shiſt of


manufacturing and sourcing to Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and other countries in Southeast Asia has created


12 >>


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LOWER COST


Experience proves cargo shipped from Asia through the Seattle+Tacoma gateway gets there faster. Let us show you the difference less congestion, efficient multimodal operations, and best-in-class customer care can mean to you. When time to market is critical, choose The Northwest Seaport Alliance.


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