Seattle, Tacoma ports launch '3rd biggest cargo gateway in North America'
Time：2015-08-10
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"This alliance would become the third-largest trade gateway in North America, behind the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and the Port of New York/New Jersey," said Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) chairman Mario Cordero.
The launch of the Northwest Seaport Alliance comes after the FMC, the federal agency that oversees the shipping industry, voted unanimously to approve of the agreement.
"Creating the Northwest Seaport Alliance, the third largest cargo gateway in North America, is truly historic and signals a new era of cooperation between our ports," said Port of Seattle Commission co-president Courtney Gregoire.
"Combining our strong cargo terminal operations will make our region more competitive in the global economy and create new jobs in Washington," he said of the ports, which are 33 miles apart.
While the ports remain separate organisations that retain ownership of their respective assets, they formed a port development authority (PDA) to manage the container, breakbulk, auto and some bulk terminals in Seattle and Tacoma.
The airport; cruise business; marinas, such as Fisherman`s Terminal; grain terminals and industrial real estate, such as the Northwest Innovation Works and Puget Sound Energy facilities and Terminal 91 uplands, will remain outside the alliance. The PDA will be governed jointly by the two ports through their elected commissions.