U.S. West Coast Ports to See More than $1 Billion in Growth, Upgrade Projects over Next 12 Months

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Ports on the U.S. West Coast have returned this year to annual cargo traffic growth of 5% after a slowdown in 2014-15 as a result of labor problems, according to Profreight (Edison, New Jersey), an import/export services provider. Imports drive container shipments in the U.S., and in recent years, West Coast ports have handled 50% of the nation's containerized imports.

With access channels 50 feet deep or more, West Coast ports are ready to handle the largest megaships, which can hold up to 18,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). Containers can be stacked 10 units high on these huge vessels. Ports on the West Coast have increased the height of their cranes to 160 feet or more to handle these stacks, whereas they previously were only able to reach containers that were only seven units high. Industrial Info is tracking large West Coast port projects totaling $1.06 billion that are slated for kickoff in the next 12 months.

In Alaska, where a majority of the growth is occurring, Industrial Info is tracking the $485 million Anchorage Port Modernization Project, which will replace Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 to improve the port's operational efficiency. Construction is anticipated to kick off in early spring 2017, and completion is expected in summer 2022.

The $210 million Nome Deepwater Port Expansion involves construction of a 450-foot large vessel dock and demolition of existing breakwater structures, extending the causeway 2,150 feet and increasing the port to a mean depth of 28 feet to increase vessel traffic. Construction is anticipated to kick off in early summer 2017, with completion set for winter 2020.

In California, the $163 million Phase I Los Angeles Berths 300-306 (APL) Terminal Expansion will increase the size of the site from 291 acres to about 347 acres. The project includes extending the wharf by 1,250 feet (creating berth 306) to expand container capacity. Construction is anticipated to kick off in summer 2017, with completion in winter 2020.

In Washington, the $200 million Seattle Terminal 5 Berth Modernization project at the 172-acre site includes reconstructing waterside and landside crane rail, rehabilitating distressed dock structures, replacing the fender system, constructing an underwater retaining wall, berth deepening and ground improvements. It also includes supply of electrical power and communications for new cranes and reefers, replacement of dock utilities, and dredging down to 58 feet to enable the facility to handle large container ships. Construction is anticipated to kick off in early spring 2017, with completion in summer 2020.

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