The Northwest Seaport Alliance Managing Members Tuesday approved a $52 million that will be invested in Seattle and Tacoma terminal improvements.
The investments include purchase of four more container cranes to join four others already on order for Husky Terminal in the South Harbor.
The Alliance also approved an additional $2.9 million in improvements at Terminal 18 in the North Harbor and the West Hylebos Log Yard and Pierce County Terminal in the South Harbor.
The new cranes, to be built by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. (ZPMC) in China, will be capable of serving ultra-large container vessels with an outreach of 24 containers and a lift height of 165 feet above the pier deck.
Construction is underway at Husky Terminal to reconstruct Pier 4 to align it with Pier 3, creating a contiguous 2,960-foot berth. These improvements will allow two 18,000-TEU ships to dock at the same time.
The reconstructed berth will also include conduit for future shore power to allow ships to plug into electricity while at dock.
Construction and the first four cranes are estimated to be done in 2018. The four additional cranes will arrive in 2019.