The Port of Tacoma recently recognized its relationships
with customers and tenants by honoring four of them with the second annual
Summit Awards for their contributions to port business and the Pierce County
community.
The awards were presented May 23 at the port’s annual
breakfast. Award recipients included port tenant Targa Sound Terminal for
Livable Community, Trident Seafoods for Environmental Stewardship and
Washington United Terminals for Business Magnet.
“We are so proud of the port’s many customers and tenants
who understand that business, environmental stewardship and livable communities
go hand in hand,” Commission President Don Meyer said at the event.
In 2012, Washington United Terminals attracted the business
of the Grand Alliance – Hapag-Lloyd, OOCL and NYK Line and associated carrier
ZIM, as well as Hamburg Sud. The additional business has generated more than
1,000 direct new family-wage jobs and increased economic activity in the
community, according to the port. Increases have been notable in trucking,
distribution and third-party supply chain services.
The terminal also has increased rail volume by about 50,000
lifts, which helped support greater rail efficiency and intermodal yard use for
all rail users in the port industrial area. To support this increased business,
Washington United Terminals invested more than $20 million in new and upgraded
equipment.
Additionally, the selection committee honored SAFE Boats
with a special Business Investment award. When SAFE Boats received a contract
to build large patrol boats for the US Navy, the company invested its own money
to upgrade the Earley Business Center, a facility that was the site of naval
shipbuilding during World War II.
SAFE Boats investments in the property included re-siding
part of the building, installing gas service and heating for the warehouse,
repairing fencing, installing new rolling doors large enough to accommodate the
finished boats and installing new energy-efficient lighting.
The renovations have resulted in 60 new jobs in Tacoma
according to the port, and also provided new business for other tenants in the
Earley Business Center, including Citadel Marine Center, as well as local
marine suppliers, service providers and skilled fabricators.
The award recipients were selected by a panel of community
and business leaders led by Commission President Meyer. The panel included
Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland and Debbie Fischer of the Customs Brokers &
International Freight Forwarders Association of Washington State.
More information about the Summit Awards is available at www.portoftacoma.com/summits.
