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Cargo Operations: Everett

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Large Aerospace Ship Arrives in Everett; Port and Westwood Shipping Lines Mark Decade of Direct Aerospace Shipments

This month, the Port of Everett and Westwood Shipping Lines marked the 10th anniversary of weekly, direct aerospace shipments from Japan with the arrival in Everett of a new and larger than normal container ship. 

In the early 2000s, the port commission made the strategic decision to invest more than $50 million to improve the port’s infrastructure to streamline and improve the aerospace logistics chain to support the world’s largest aerospace manufacturer.

This investment included the installation of the two 40-ton capacity gantry cranes at Pacific Terminal, the purchase of three 45-ton reach stackers, the construction of the custom designed Mount Baker Terminal aerospace facility in south Everett, and the addition of a 50-ton capacity rail mounted gantry crane. These investments enabled Westwood Shipping Lines to bring aerospace shipments directly to Everett. Previously, the ships unloaded in Seattle or Tacoma and the parts were barged to Everett.

"These infrastructure investments allowed our region to successfully compete for the 787 and 777X airplane programs," Port of Everett CEO Les Reardanz said. "By investing in our infrastructure and developing this partnership with Westwood Shipping Lines, we are better able to support our customer and job growth in the community."

Now, after 10 years, the port is adding 1,000-foot berths to meet its customer’s needs.

On August 11, the port welcomed the Westwood Robson, a 686-foot container ship that is transporting aerospace parts and other general cargoes from Japan to Everett. The new, larger vessel could only be serviced at Pier 1, because its bow can extend into the waterway. Typically, the aerospace shipments are handled at Pacific Terminal, where the berth length is only just 650 feet. Per the port commission’s initiative, staff is working on implementing the port’s Marine Terminals Master Plan to strengthen and enhance South Terminal to better accommodate the larger vessels.

The port and Westwood have worked together to successfully transport all of the oversized components for the 747, 767, 777 and KC-Tanker. The port now supports more than 35,000 jobs in the region, up from 6,000 in 2005.


The 686-foot Westwood Robison delivering aircraft components to Everett on August 11 was the largest container ship to visit this Washington State port. Photo/Port of Everett
 

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