Port of Portland to Discuss Budget

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Port of Portland Board of Commissioners, acting as the Port of Portland Budget Committee, will convene for a meeting to discuss the annual budget on May 13.

The meeting will be conducted virtually to adhere to social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. and will be broadcasted live on the port’s website and YouTube channel.

The Fiscal Year 2020-21 budget message and budget document to be presented to the committee will be available to the public on May 11. Comments and questions should be submitted by email.

For more information and to review the documents, visit www.portofportland.com/Commission.

Port of Portland Continues to Operate

By Karen Robes Meeks

As vital infrastructure to the region, Port of Portland marine terminal facilities will stay open for operations while Oregon Governor Kate Brown’s Stay Home, Save Lives Executive Order is in place.

The port’s marine terminals remain open and operational, as they continue to help move critical goods in and out of the region.

According to the port, “While the port has seen some declines in auto imports and exports, its bulk marine facilities—which handle grains, potash and soda ash—are experiencing normal export numbers.”

South Korea shipping company SM Line continues to call at Terminal 6 weekly, said the port.

Visit www.portofportland.com/covid-19 for updates.

SM Line Arrives at Port of Portland

By Karen Robes Meeks

This week, SM Line made its first vessel call to the Port of Portland’s Terminal 6. The arrival of the 4,360-TEU Qingdao, marked the start of weekly container shipping service for the company at the Oregon seaport.

The inaugural call – which departed the Port of Ningbo in China on Dec. 22 as part of the South Korea-based container carrier’s Pacific Northwest Service – included nearly 200 containers being imported, more than 70 export containers going to Korea, and 330 empty containers. The company’s service route includes stops in Shanghai, Pusan, Vancouver, BC and Seattle, Wash, the port said.

“We are excited to welcome SM Line’s maiden voyage to Portland,” said Port Executive Director Curtis Robinhold. “Their weekly container service provides an important option for regional shippers and will better connect Oregon businesses to global markets. It is such an encouraging sign to see Terminal 6 busy and productive.”

New Container Line for Portland

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Port of Portland will be receiving weekly visits from SM Line starting in January. The South Korea-based container carrier, established in 2017, will add Terminal 6 to its current Pacific Northwest rotation.

“We look forward to this new service in Portland, which will expand our trans-Pacific service coverage and better connect SM Line with customers in the region,” said SM Line CEO Kee Hoon Park.

Using six 4,300 to 4,500 TEU vessels, the weekly service will begin on Dec. 22 at the port of Ningbo in China then stop in Shanghai, Pusan, Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, Pusan, Kwangyang and Yantian.

“We are thrilled to welcome SM Line and give regional shippers more options and better connect Oregon businesses to global markets,” said port executive director Curtis Robinhold. “This service will help reduce the number of trucks on the road and decrease regional environmental impacts of freight movement.”

Governor Kate Brown’s recent trade mission trip to South Korea played a major role in securing the business. Brown and port officials met with SM Line executives.

“This is great news for Oregon, which will create more jobs for Oregonians and more opportunities for local companies to grow as they market Oregon products overseas,” Brown said. “Oregon sent $1.7 billion in exports to South Korea last year. During our recent trade mission, we met with SM Line executives and made the case for continuing connections with our trading partners in Asia. I’m delighted they made the decision to come to Portland.”

New CFO for Portland

By Karen Robes Meeks

Dionne Denson is the Port of Portland’s new Chief Financial Officer, it was announced Thursday.

Denson, who will start on June 10, will oversee the port’s accounting, finance, budget management, audit and risk.

Denson has spent the last eight years at the Georgia Department of Public Health, where she recently served as Deputy Commissioner and Chief Financial Officer managing a $600 million budget.

“We could not be more excited to have someone as impressive as Dionne join our Executive Team,” said Port Executive Director Curtis Robinhold. “Not only will she bring proven financial skills and thoughtful leadership, she has a deep commitment to promoting service and inclusion, which are critical values to us at the port.”

Oregon Exports Up

By Karen Robes Meeks

Oregon exports continue to rise despite an uncertain trade landscape.

Oregon shipped 1.8 percent more goods in 2018 than it did in 2017 to the tune of $22.3 billion in goods, according to new US Department of Commerce data.

Oregon’s top export nations – China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Vietnam – receive at least $1 billion in Oregon exports, while Canada, its second-biggest trade partner received computers and electronics, machinery, chemicals, agriculture, and transportation equipment, according to the Port of Portland.

“Oregon’s record trade numbers reflect our state’s diverse manufacturing base, and the lasting partnerships we’ve built across the Pacific Rim,” said Chris Harder, director of Business Oregon. “We’re particularly pleased to see the growth not limited to one industry or destination country, but spread throughout, increasing revenue for exporters across the state of Oregon.”

“In a trade-dependent state like ours, we rely on strong trading partnerships to help Oregon farmers feed the world and local businesses continue to grow,” said Curtis Robinhold, executive director of the Port of Portland. “With small- or medium-sized businesses making up nearly 90 percent of all exporters in Oregon, it is promising to see trade activity expand – contributing to a more equitable and prosperous region for all.”

Portland Terminal 6 Open for Breakbulk

By Karen Robes Meeks

Terminal 6 recently moved its first wind turbine tower parts, also known as “breakbulk” cargo, through its docks thanks to a partnership between Vestas, the Port of Portland and Portland-based Omega Morgan.

The sections for about 50 towers, which will be used on a wind project in Eastern Oregon, came from Korea. They were delivered over three separate ship calls. The last oversized shipment was handled on Friday, March 1 and later transported to its final destination by truck at night to minimize traffic issues.

“With our North American headquarters in Portland, we’re especially proud to be part of bringing the supply chain benefits of wind energy to the Port of Portland for a new wind project here in the state,” said Senior Manager of Transportation for Vestas North America, Arturus Espaillat. “The port’s ability to accommodate turbine components of this size was key to effectively and economically delivering the components to the project.”

“The port is focused on moving more breakbulk through Terminal 6 as we continue to serve shippers at our multi-use terminal,” said Port Chief Commercial Officer Keith Leavitt. “The local partnerships needed to complete this work complement a project that will bring renewable energy to the state.”.

FedEx Expanding at Portland

By Karen Robes Meeks

Earlier this month, the Port of Portland Commission voted to authorize the sale of 38 acres at Troutdale Reynolds Industrial Park to anchor tenant FedEx Ground, a move that is expected to create more jobs.

FedEx Ground chose to buy more land east of its 633,000-square-foot automated hub, where it handles about 30,000 packages per hour, according to the port.

“We continue to work with key customers in Troutdale to grow and transform the property into a thriving jobs center,” said Keith Leavitt, the Port of Portland’s chief commercial officer. “FedEx Ground is well positioned to keep building on that momentum.”

FedEx Ground first bought 78 acres at the redeveloped brownfield site a decade ago, then purchased 14.5 more acres in 2016 to meet its expanding business demands.

More Oregon Ag Products for China

By Karen Robes Meeks

Thanks to a newly minted cooperation with hoopla Global, the Port of Portland and Oregon agricultural brands will reach even more Chinese consumers.

Founded in early 2017 to do away with the “hoopla” or barriers around exporting “Made in the USA” natural and organic consumer products, the Portland-based hoopla Global recently launched its flagship store on e-commerce JD.com, a major retailer in China, a move that makes Made in USA natural products accessible to the Chinese market.

“In my more than 30 years of doing business directly with China, I have never experienced this level of open market access for USA brands that JD is providing us,” said Stuart Follen, co-founder and chairman of hoopla Global. “Our flagship store on JD is the fulfillment of a dream to provide my Chinese friends and their friends with the trusted ‘Better for You’ products they could previously only get by hopping on a plane and traveling to the U.S.”

“JD.com is pleased to announce our partnership with hoopla Global and to offer Made in the USA natural and organic brands to our more than 300 million customers,” said Vicky Zhuang, general manager North America of JD.com.

“As we continue to grow our offering of U.S. brands, we look forward to expanding our cooperation with hoopla Global.”

“We are excited about this entrepreneurial launch by a Portland-based company to open international access for Oregon and other USA food makers,” said Keith Leavitt, chief commercial officer at the Port of Portland. “The intermodal rail service at Terminal 6 is an example of how we are offering hoopla Global and other local shippers another option to move their products to domestic and overseas markets,” he added.

Portland to Keep Intermodal Rail Service

By Karen Robes Meeks

Encouraged by the growth of rail container movement through Terminal 6, the Port of Portland plans to keep its BNSF Railway service through mid-2019.

The service, which began in January, give shippers at the terminal more options to move freight between Portland and the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, where cargo such as wood, hay and other products is loaded on vessels bound for international destinations.

“In addition to our continued work to attract weekly carrier service, moving products by rail is proving to be a successful way to assist shippers in our region,” said Keith Leavitt, chief commercial officer at the Port of Portland. “The rail is also a time-saving alternative for some shippers, who face delays from truck congestion at ports to the north.”

Nike Executive Appointed to Portland Commission

By Karen Robes Meeks

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has appointed Sean O’Hollaren, vice president of government and public affairs Nike, Inc. to the nine-member Port of Portland Commission. He will take over for Commissioner Jim Carter.

Before working at Nike, O’Hollaren served as senior vice president at Honeywell International and director of Washington Affairs at Union Pacific. His also served at the White House as deputy assistant to the president and as special assistant to the president in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs.

O'Hollaren was also assistant secretary of transportation, overseeing the Office of Governmental Affairs at the US Department of Transportation during the creation of the Transportation Security Administration and its transition to the Department of Homeland Security, according to the port.

"The Port Commission serves a vital role in continuing Oregon's economic growth and building a strong, local workforce," Brown said. "Sean O'Hollaren is a respected leader whose international business experience and new role on the Commission will help ensure Oregon remains a competitive player in the global economy of the future."

New Tenant for Portland Business Park

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Port of Portland-owned Gresham Vista Business Park has announced a new tenant. U.K. synthetic diamond manufacturer Element Six, which is part of The De Beers Group, will begin building a $94-million advanced manufacturing facility this summer, with hopes to be fully operational by 2020.

“We selected the Portland region based on critical success factors such as competitive power distribution, access to a high-quality talent pool and strong support from the City of Gresham and other local partners,” said Ken Sullivan, Element Six’s Global Operations Director.

This comes on the heels of news that De Beers plans to debut Lightbox Jewelry, a line of affordable diamond fashion jewelry.

The 60,000-square-foot facility located east of Portland will initially house about 60 full-time engineers, technicians and other employees related to synthetic diamond production. Once at full scale, the plant will be able to make up to 500,000 rough carats of lab-grown diamonds annually.

“We’re very excited to welcome Element Six to our Gresham,” said Gresham, Oregon, Mayor Shane Bemis. “Gresham is becoming a hub for advanced industries, and we’re happy to welcome the new job and investment. The City of Gresham has the fastest guaranteed land-use review process in the region, which makes us especially attractive to prospective companies.”

Bulk Expansion at Portland

By Karen Robes Meeks

Canpotex Limited has finished its five-year, nearly $150 million terminal expansion at Portland Bulk Terminals at the Port of Portland.

The terminal now has a new shiploader, a new warehouse facility capable of holding 110,000 metric tons (MT), and an upgraded vessel loading system that can more efficiently move potash from trains, through the warehouse system and onto ships. “The expansion of our Portland terminal is the culmination of five years of hard work, dedication and partnership between Canpotex, the Port of Portland, the local community and dozens of vendors and suppliers,” said Ken Seitz, president and CEO of Canpotex. “The improvements we have made at Portland Bulk Terminals will enhance our ability to reliably ship our potash overseas and meet customers’ needs.”

According to the company, the improvements raise overall terminal system capacity by an estimated 3.5 million MT annually for a total of 7.5 million annual MT.

“The completion of this expansion project enables Canpotex to be agile and responsive to our international customers’ demands for high quality, Canadian potash,” said Seitz.

Based in Saskatoon, Canpotex is considered Canada’s largest mineral exporter, delivering potash to about 40 countries.

Portland Top for Auto Exports

By Karen Robes Meeks

With more than 87,000 Ford vehicles shipped out last year, the Port of Portland still reigns as the top US West Coast port for auto exports, according to the latest statistics released Monday. The port also handled up to 314,000 vehicles last year, 7.8 percent more when compared to 2016.

The Portland port is a major part in the supply chain for vehicle manufacturing. US-made cars come by rail from the assembly line to the port, where they travel on roll-on/roll-off ships headed to Asia. Import vehicles such as Hyundais, Toyotas, and Hondas come to Portland before they are distributed to dealerships across the West Coast.

“Our export boom highlights the strong demand for American-made cars in Asia,” said Keith Leavitt, the Port’s chief commercial officer. “This positive trend translates into more than 600 direct local jobs for dockworkers, processors and others working in our supply chain.”

To foster its export vehicle business, the port and its tenant Auto Warehousing Company expanded auto staging space in the Rivergate Industrial District near Terminal 6 last year.

Portland Cleanup Continues

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Port of Portland’s ongoing efforts to clean up contamination at its most active marine terminal, Terminal 4, will continue under a preliminary agreement recently reached between the port and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Port officials last summer reached out to the EPA to figure out how to best move forward on remediating Terminal 4, which is located within the Portland Harbor Superfund site. Operations that were discontinued 20 years ago caused much of the contamination.

The EPA identified the next cleanup steps and outlined the areas of a preliminary agreement that would involve looking at the best technical solutions for remediation. With a thisdocument in place, both agencies will now negotiate to formalize the agreement.

“We’re committed to a cleanup that protects our community and environment and excited to further the significant work that we’ve already accomplished at Terminal 4,” said Port Executive Director Curtis Robinhold. “We’re proud to stand with the others, public and private, who have committed to moving cleanup forward at Portland Harbor.”

EPA Awards Port of Portland

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Port of Portland was among eight organizations and businesses to earn the US Environmental Protection Agency’s “Howard Orlean Excellence in Site Re-Use Award,” which honors Oregon’s public and private sector’s innovative and collaborative work in remediating and revitalizing Troutdale Reynolds Industrial Park.

Recipients also include Alcoa Corp., the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, the City of Troutdale, Multnomah County, FedEx Ground, Amazon and Trammell Crow Co.

“It is with these partnerships that we can advance the agency’s core mission of protecting human health and the environment in the best possible way,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “I congratulate the award winners and hope their efforts to turn a formerly polluted site into a beneficial addition to the surrounding communities becomes the norm for redevelopment and cleanup at Superfund sites across the country.”

The former Reynolds Metals Company Superfund Site has already welcomed a FedEx Ground sorting facility and an Amazon is erecting a fulfillment center.

“The Troutdale Reynolds Industrial Park demonstrates what can happen when partners work together to clean up the site, transcend political and jurisdictional boundaries and get the site ready for redevelopment,” said Chris Hladick, EPA regional administrator for the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. “This project will pay both environmental and economic dividends for decades.”

Portland Terminal 6 Best Use Determined

By Karen Robes Meeks

Terminal 6 at the Port of Portland would be best served as “a multi-use terminal that dedicates revenues from other terminal activities to support container service,” according to the port, which recently announced the findings of a consultant study and work from an industry leader committee. The findings, which were presented to the port commission earlier this month, showed that a diverse mix of cargo uses is needed to support the container business since volumes are lower than most West Coast ports.

The location, as a river port, and mergers in the marine industry may make it difficult to get a return on weekly trans-Pacific container service. Drawing carriers that offer service to Asia that align with the region’s primary export and import markets, keeping terminal rates competitive and labor productivity levels at or above West Coast standards, lowering costs and securing container volume support from the shipping community are key to the facility’s success, the study indicated.

“This analysis reinforced that there is no silver bullet for container service,” said Curtis Robinhold, Port executive director. “With the strong backing of shippers, labor and businesses, I’m hopeful that we can continue to offer container service options for shippers at T-6, while ensuring long-term financial stability. We heard strong support from our partners in the shipping community that they are willing to do what it takes to help support container service at the terminal.”

Meanwhile, the port and BNSF are teaming up to offer a rail shuttle between Terminal 6 and Puget Sound ports. Also, Swire Shipping now calls at T-6 monthly with a general cargo/container service to New Zealand/Australia and Asia.

New Port of Portland Commission President

By Karen Robes Meeks

Alice Cuprill-Comas has been appointed Port of Portland Commission President by Oregon Governor Kate Brown, effective December 27.

Cuprill-Comas, who is senior vice president and general counsel for Oregon Health & Science University, takes over for Jim Carter, who served for eight years as president. Carter will remain as a commissioner until his replacement is chosen. “I sincerely appreciate Jim Carter’s years of service, and welcome Alice Cuprill-Comas to the Port of Portland Commission,” Brown said. “The Port Commission plays a key role in propelling statewide economic prosperity, and Alice’s visionary leadership will help ensure our marine ports and air terminals continue to meet the needs of Oregonians in the competitive, global economy.”

Prior to her work at the university in November 2012, Cuprill-Comas was in private practice for more than 15 years. She was general counsel to Seattle-based alternative fuels firm Prometheus Energy Co.

“It’s an honor to lead the Port Commission at a time when the organization is facing so many exciting opportunities,” Cuprill-Comas said. “From a major airport expansion, to Portland Harbor Superfund cleanup and our marine future, these are complex issues that can make a difference in quality of life for families in our region.”

BNSF to Transload Containers at Portland

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Port of Portland on Wednesday announced its partnership with BNSF Railway to provide rail service to shippers at Terminal 6.

The new service, which began this week and will run five days a week, will ferry cargo between Portland and Seattle/Tacoma, where goods can be loaded onto ocean carriers.

The news comes on the heels of Swire Shipping’s decision to start a monthly container call at Terminal 6.

“The rail service will complement the monthly container ship call by giving our local shippers another path to market,” said Port of Portland executive director Curtis Robinhold. “We hope to continue building on this momentum and interest at Terminal 6.”

The port has also retained a consultant firm and reached out to a 22-member committee of industry stakeholders to look at what container shipping in Portland might look like in the coming years and develop a sustainable business model for Terminal 6.

They are expected to bring their findings to the port commission this month.

Container Service for Portland

By Karen Robes Meeks

Starting this January, The China Navigation Company (CNCo) – Swire Shipping – will commence a container shipping service at the Port of Portland, a move that revives container service at the terminal.

The new business was announced Monday by Governor Kate Brown, the Port of Portland, and Business Oregon on the heels of a recent trade mission to Hong Kong where Brown and port officials convened with Swire corporate executives.

“I am absolutely delighted to announce new container service will begin at the Port of Portland’s Terminal 6," Brown said. "Not only does the container service support jobs for Oregonians, it's going to give more options to Oregon companies as we work to maximize Terminal 6. We’ve been working hard to expand export options to our Oregon business, which is why I recently lead a trade mission to Asia. Strong trading partnerships and access to global markets allow Oregon businesses to grow, helping to sustain a thriving statewide economy."

The new service is expected to be monthly and feature incoming Asia cargo, as well as containers sent to Australia/New Zealand and Western Star trucks exports to Australia. Daimler Trucks North America are producing the vehicles at its Swan Island facility in Portland.

“The Port is focused on giving our local shippers a variety of options to move their goods efficiently,” said Curtis Robinhold, Port of Portland executive director. “Most importantly, this signals that T-6 is open for business. We very much appreciate the growing partnership we have with Swire.”

The new Swire service is benefiting from a $250,000 Strategic Reserve Fund investment, aimed at helping Oregon businesses bring their wares to a global market and aid Northwest shippers.