SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

The Port of Seattle is served by 23 container carriers. In 2008, the Port handled $39.9 billion in two-way trade. Internationally, the Port offers direct services to Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Europe, and Mexico. South America and other international locations can be served by transshipment. Domestically, the Port of Seattle offers direct servces to Alaska and Hawaii with indirect service to Guam. The Port is located in a natural deep-water harbor and has 12 container berths up to 50 feet deep. There are two major rail hubs within 1 mile and four railroad routes to inland markets.   

The Port has just completed terminal 30, a $50 million dollar, 70 acre facility with two berths, part of a $1 billion dollar expansion.The expansion will provide bigger terminals, better technology and improved freight mobility. The Port is in the process of doubling it's intermodal container rail capacity so that cargo can be moved directly onto railcars, and improving land access to the container terminals by way of rail and road grade separations or route changes.

This year, the Zim Djibouti, a 10,000 TEUs ship (twenty foot equivalents), became the largest ever to dock in Seattle. Additionally, the Port has demonstrated it's commitment to the environment by establishing the "At-Berth Clean Fuels" program, which provides incentives to ships that use low sulfur diesel while docked. According to the Port, levels of sulfur dioxide have dropped 80% and diesel particulate matter has dropped 60% since the program began. With increasing participation, the numbers are sure to improve even more. 

Photos courtesy of the Port of Seattle.