Friday, January 17, 2014

Port of Grays Harbor Sets Volume Records

By Mark Edward Nero

Increasing log exports and roll-on/roll-off cargoes, combined with short sea shipments from Mexico resulted in 102 ship calls to Port of Grays Harbor marine terminals in 2013. The diverse shipping activity added up to a 30-year record for longshore activity.

More than 87,000 Chrysler automobiles were processed for export at the port by Pasha Automotive Services last year, a 23 percent increase over 2012, according to port data. Pasha completed construction of a $3.5 million processing facility in August 2013.

Pasha Stevedoring and Terminals also handled a record 13,609 metric tons of over-high, over-wide equipment for export. Export logs also hit a 15-year high for a combined total of 52.9 million board feet being shipped by customers Alcan and Dkoram, according to data.

During its first full year of operation in 2013, the AGP Storage and Export Facility saw a record amount of agriculture products exported through the facility. Over 1.3 million metric tons of soybeans, soybean meal, beet pulp pellets and dried distillers grains with solubles were exported to Pacific Rim markets last year.

“We were very excited to see the final activity numbers for 2013,” Port Commission President Stan Pinnick said. “Our partners have done an outstanding job bringing business and employment to Grays Harbor.”

Despite the volume highs, however, Deputy Executive Director Leonard Barnes said there’s still room for development.

“We have plenty of space and berth availability to meet demand as we continue to grow. We fully expect to see records set again in the years to come,” he said. “We look forward to more vessel calls and expanding the diversity of cargoes we handle.”