The
Japan-based carrier, known for its distinctive red containers, is the
longest-calling international shipping line at the port.
“We are proud
of and thankful for the close partnership that has allowed both “K” Line and
the Port of Tacoma to grow over the years,” the port’s chief commercial
officer, Tong Zhu, said in a statement commemorating the milestone.
The past
quarter-century has seen “K” Line’s operations at the port steadily grow, with
more improvements currently in the works.
When “K” Line
first called at Tacoma in 1988, its ships berthed at a 37-acre terminal on the
Sitcum Waterway. In 2005, it expanded to the 93-acre Husky Terminal on the
Blair Waterway. Both terminals are served by the North Intermodal Yard, whose
efficient on-dock rail originally attracted “K” Line to Tacoma.
When “K” Line
first arrived, it sent two outbound trains of 40-plus rail cars each week to
the Midwest and East Coast, and its weekly ship call brought in about 1,700
containers. Now, it departs six trains of 100 cars each week, plus an additional
125 or more to and from Portland.
Echoing the
trend of larger ships in the trans-Pacific trade, the 66,000-ton,
Panama-flagged Chicago Bridge holds almost 6,000 container units.
Plans are currently
underway to add 100-gauge crane rail to Pier 3 and redesign an aligned Pier 4
at Husky Terminal to accommodate the simultaneous berthing of larger ships in
the future.
