TACOMA joins the ranks of ports that see much of their future dependence on oil and related products with the Targa Sound Terminals
Tacoma aware of growth from oil, spends US$80m to build crude terminal
TACOMA joins the ranks of ports that see much of their future dependence on oil and related products with the Targa Sound Terminals spending US$80 million on a terminal to handle crude by rail from Montana at a former Kaiser Aluminium smelter site that was originally planned as a container terminal.
Port chief executive John Wolfe says Tacoma is spending heavily on infrastructure to compete internationally, adding that the port can reach its target of three million TEU in 10 years with the space it already has, the New York's Maritime Professional reported.
Throughput of the port continues to grow, with its volumes to the end of April up 35 per cent to 617,076 TEU at the end of April. Imports rose 48 per cent to 226,676 TEU, while exports rose 40 per cent to 177,185 TEU.
Eco-activists and lobby groups are bound to object to the oil proposal. Grays Harbour, which plans to handle oil from North Dakota and elsewhere, is running up against objections from community groups. In neighbouring Oregon, Coos Bay is facing a possible court battle to deepen the harbour to make way for LNG exports.
"There is a chorus of concern over how this export project unfolded behind closed doors," said Brian Pasko of the Oregon Chapter of the Sierra Club. "It's time for the Port to start levelling with the public about the impacts of the dredging and the dangers of liquefied natural gas export or other fossil fuel exports like coal."
