The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) has joined forces with the Puyallup Tribe to increase the region’s shipping capacity by building a new terminal on the East Blair Waterway.
The move is set to boost the current berth (pier) capacity for leading shipping lines, allowing the Seattle/Tacoma gateway to gain market share and promote regional economic activity.
According to the conditions of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the Tribe and the NWSA propose to build a new pier close to one on the East Blair Waterway and jointly sell and operate both facilities.
The Tribe proposes to construct a new pier on roughly 22 acres of tribal land close to the current East Blair Terminal 1 (EB1).
The NWSA operates the EB1 terminal, which takes RoRo and breakbulk cargo. The primary imports at EB1 are automobiles and heavy equipment that are driven off vessels and then prepared for transit and sale across North America.
READ: NWSA container volumes spike 33 per cent in November
The new Tribal pier will have equivalent capabilities to the present pier, including on-dock rail and will use carbon reduction technologies to reduce both localised pollution and global warming consequences.
The NWSA will offer technical support to ensure consistency and efficiency between the piers.
A two-berth facility with ample cargo handling acreage will support existing customers, expand job opportunities and help attract new business.
Increased capacity of East Blair 1 and Puyallup Tribal Terminal will enable new cargo services to call the Tacoma Harbor, driving more job opportunities on the waterfront as well as across the supply chain.
READ: NWSA ends 2024 with near 20 per cent volume growth
John McCarthy, Port of Tacoma Commission President and The Northwest Seaport Alliance Co-Chair, said: “By working together, we can leverage our collective strengths to enhance our competitiveness, attract new business, and further solidify our position as a leading gateway for global trade.”
The Puyallup Tribal Council, the Puyallup Tribe’s Governing Body, further stated: “No Tribe has ever had this historic an opportunity to partner with a port, and we are excited to enter this business relationship with the Northwest Seaport Alliance and continue to expand the Puyallup Tribe’s ventures on our homelands.”
