Terminal Operations: Bellingham, Gulfport
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New Activity at the Bellingham Shipping Terminal
The Port of Bellingham Shipping Terminal is set to receive its first regular cargo shipment in more than 17 years. The 38,273-dwt bulk carrier MV Diana Bolten is scheduled to arrive here September 28 laden with 10,700 metric tons of organic corn and soybeans destined for local markets.
Local longshore union (ILWU) workers will offload the organic corn and soybeans for temporary storage in the Shipping Terminal warehouses. Sunrise Foods will distribute the grains to producers of organic livestock in northwest Washington and southern British Columbia for use as animal feed.
"There has been a surge of organic grain imports over the past several years due to strong demand from American consumers" said Port Marine Terminals Business Development Manager Chris Clark. "The Port Commission’s commitment towards modernizing the Shipping Terminal along with strong support from our local ILWU has been critical towards making this facility a cost-effective and convenient gateway for international commerce. Consumer demand for organic foods is expected to continue growing rapidly in the U.S. and we are hoping to secure additional contracts to move organic grains and other commodities over our docks in the coming years."
The organic corn and soybeans were shipped from Turkey, a leading exporter of organic products to the United States. The Diana Bolten is in the North Atlantic Ocean and scheduled to enter the Panama Canal on or about September 12.
The port has recently made significant capital investments to the Bellingham Shipping Terminal to encourage new business. At its last meeting, the Port Commission authorized a rental agreement, with the option to purchase, equipment necessary to load and unload grain and other bulk commodities. Over the summer, the port completed a $500,000 project to replace the roof on Warehouse 2 allowing the facility to be certified for the storage of organic grains. Other recent improvements include a new bulkhead, up-to-date stormwater and power systems, and the clean-up of historic contamination from the Whatcom Waterway.
USNS Spearhead (T-EPF-1) berthed at Gulfport during the port’s first participation in military cargo operations as a designated National Strategic Port. Operated by the U.S. Military Sea-Lift Command, the so-called "Expeditionary Fast Transport" is designed for rapid intra-theater transport of medium-sized cargo payloads.
Photo/Mississippi State Port Authority
The Port of Bellingham Shipping Terminal is set to receive its first regular cargo shipment in more than 17 years. The 38,273-dwt bulk carrier MV Diana Bolten is scheduled to arrive here September 28 laden with 10,700 metric tons of organic corn and soybeans destined for local markets.
Local longshore union (ILWU) workers will offload the organic corn and soybeans for temporary storage in the Shipping Terminal warehouses. Sunrise Foods will distribute the grains to producers of organic livestock in northwest Washington and southern British Columbia for use as animal feed.
"There has been a surge of organic grain imports over the past several years due to strong demand from American consumers" said Port Marine Terminals Business Development Manager Chris Clark. "The Port Commission’s commitment towards modernizing the Shipping Terminal along with strong support from our local ILWU has been critical towards making this facility a cost-effective and convenient gateway for international commerce. Consumer demand for organic foods is expected to continue growing rapidly in the U.S. and we are hoping to secure additional contracts to move organic grains and other commodities over our docks in the coming years."
The organic corn and soybeans were shipped from Turkey, a leading exporter of organic products to the United States. The Diana Bolten is in the North Atlantic Ocean and scheduled to enter the Panama Canal on or about September 12.
The port has recently made significant capital investments to the Bellingham Shipping Terminal to encourage new business. At its last meeting, the Port Commission authorized a rental agreement, with the option to purchase, equipment necessary to load and unload grain and other bulk commodities. Over the summer, the port completed a $500,000 project to replace the roof on Warehouse 2 allowing the facility to be certified for the storage of organic grains. Other recent improvements include a new bulkhead, up-to-date stormwater and power systems, and the clean-up of historic contamination from the Whatcom Waterway.
The Bellingham Shipping Terminal is a full-service marine terminal with the flexibility to meet a diverse range of business needs. Terminal assets include 1,250 feet of dock space on a deep-water pier, a 550-foot barge pier, 85,000 square feet of covered storage, 40 acres of available land; and access to resources via rail, barge, rafts, trucks, containers and ocean-going vessels.
Bellingham Shipping Terminal will receive its first cargo in many years later this month.
Photo/Port of Bellingham
Gulfport Facilitates First Military Deployment Under Strategic Port Designation
USNS Spearhead (T-EPF-1) berthed at Gulfport during the port’s first participation in military cargo operations as a designated National Strategic Port. Operated by the U.S. Military Sea-Lift Command, the so-called "Expeditionary Fast Transport" is designed for rapid intra-theater transport of medium-sized cargo payloads.
Photo/Mississippi State Port Authority
The Port of Gulfport on July 15 participated in its first outload military cargo as a designated national strategic port – in this case, the deployment of equipment aboard USNS Spearhead (T-EPF-1) destined for Central America. This historic partnership between the Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport and the Port represented the first deployment from Gulfport since it was designated as one of the nation’s 17 strategic ports in November 2015.
The Strategic Seaport Designation followed an assessment of plausible military requirements on the Gulf Coast, which validated that the designation of Gulfport would successfully mitigate any shortfalls. The port’s central location in the southeastern defense corridor provides military installations, such as the Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, with direct on-dock rail service and quick access to Interstate 10 and the open ocean.
"This historic deployment was a unique opportunity for the Port of Gulfport to showcase our capabilities, while also serving our military in a strategic and financially strong capacity," said Port Executive Director Jonathan Daniels. "Our close proximity to the Seabee Base has proven to be a viable asset to the military and will continue to be a cost-effective solution for their operations."
Loading equipment from Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport aboard USNS Spearhead.
Photo/Mississippi State Port Authority
The Strategic Seaport Designation followed an assessment of plausible military requirements on the Gulf Coast, which validated that the designation of Gulfport would successfully mitigate any shortfalls. The port’s central location in the southeastern defense corridor provides military installations, such as the Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, with direct on-dock rail service and quick access to Interstate 10 and the open ocean.
"This historic deployment was a unique opportunity for the Port of Gulfport to showcase our capabilities, while also serving our military in a strategic and financially strong capacity," said Port Executive Director Jonathan Daniels. "Our close proximity to the Seabee Base has proven to be a viable asset to the military and will continue to be a cost-effective solution for their operations."
Loading equipment from Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport aboard USNS Spearhead.
Photo/Mississippi State Port Authority
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