The Port of Tacoma has hired former Horizon Lines regional
sales manager Tom Bellerud to lead the port’s container terminal business
development efforts.
In his new position, Bellerud is responsible for the
profitability and growth of the port’s international and domestic container
business, including strategies for capital investment, maintenance and repair,
and new business solutions. He takes over for Brendan Dugan, who left the port
in 2012.
Bellerud brings more than 20 years of experience in the
maritime and transportation industry: in addition to Horizon Lines, he also has
held management positions with CSX Lines, Sea-Land Service, CSX Intermodal and
CMX Trucking. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from
Pacific Lutheran University.
He joins the port during an uptick in business: container
volumes at Tacoma rose 16 percent in 2012, reaching 1.71 million 20-foot
equivalent units, up from 1.47 million in 2011.
The increased container volumes are attributed in part to
the addition of the Grand Alliance and associated carriers in July, as well as
significantly stronger volumes from established customers. The new Grand
Alliance services helped increase container vessel calls at Tacoma by 10
percent, according to port data.
For 2013, the port is forecasting 14 percent growth in
container volumes, along with a seven percent boost in auto imports and
moderate gains in grain and log exports.
