Issue link: https://pma.uberflip.com/i/1517839
New ZPMC Super Post Panamax cranes on their way to Terminal 5 at the Northwest Seaport Alliance's Seattle Harbor. Pacific Northwest Significant investments in infrastructure are enabling ports in the Pacific Northwest to handle larger cargo ships while also improving cargo-handling efficiency. It was also a banner year for the Port of Seattle's cruise industry. In 2023, auto imports increased significantly following the expansion of existing service and new business at the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) gateway. Two Super Post-Panamax Cranes Arrive in Seattle In late November, Seattle Terminals, SSAT/ST and the NWSA welcomed two ZPMC Super Post Panamax Cranes. The cranes, joining four existing cranes at Terminal 5, are among the largest cranes on the West Coast, standing 316 feet tall with a 240-foot outreach boom. The cranes have the capacity to handle containers stacked 10 high and 25 wide on deck. The cranes are expected to begin moving cargo in early 2024, following the completion of the South Berth expansion and the Phase Two modernization project, according to the NWSA. Auto Imports Soar at PNW Ports Imports of automobiles through ports in the Pacific Northwest increased significantly in 2023. Auto volumes increased 45% throughout the year, largely due to the consolidation of GLOVIS America's Kia and Hyundai business to the NWSA gateway (reported on in PMA's 2022 Annual Report) and new business from General Motors, according to the NWSA. In addition, a new auto import business launched at the Port of Portland's Marine Terminal 6 in early 2023. The service, which is expected to lead to the distribution of approximately 160,000 General Motors (GM) vehicles through Portland each year, is an expansion of a 30-year relationship between the Port of Portland and GM. Ports Set to Undergo Major Waterway Transformation The Port of Tacoma and the Port of Seattle achieved a significant milestone by signing design agreements with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for crucial waterway navigation improvement projects. These projects will R E G I O N A L R E P O R T 30 2023 ANNUAL REPORT