This expanded service connects the Pacific Northwest and the Mediterranean with direct calls and fixed-day weekly service. It will also offer feeder connections to the Far East, Middle East, Indian Ocean, Latin America and West Africa.
By bringing more ships to Terminal 6 and improving the regularity of the calls, the service will provide a more efficient, dependable and competitive option for shippers utilizing the Port of Portland.
“This comes as very good news, and it will significantly increase our volumes out of Portland,” said Lee Goodwin, manager, international transportation for Boise Inc. “Using the enhanced weekly service will improve efficiency, cost savings and flexibility in our schedules.” Boise Inc exports containerized paper products from Pacific Northwest mills through terminal 6 at the Port of Portland.
The port rotation for the newly configured North America West Coast service will be: Cartagena, Manzanillo (Mexico), Los Angeles, Oakland, Seattle, Vancouver, Portland, Oakland, Los Angeles, Manzanillo (Mexico), Manzanillo (Panama), Cartagena, Caucedo, Tangier, Valencia, Cagliari, Livorno, Genoa, Marseilles-Fos, Barcelona, Valencia, Tangier and back to Cartagena.
“Portland offers a strong import and export market with a newly deepened navigation channel and excellent intermodal rail, truck and barge connections,” said David Trzyzewski, vice president of sales and marketing for ICTSI Oregon, Inc.
ICTSI Oregon, Inc. operates the container terminal under a 25-year lease with the Port of Portland. Parent company International Container Terminal Services, Inc. operates 22 container terminals and port projects in 17 countries in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. Portland marks the company’s first entry into the U.S. market.
“Portland is well connected with Ports worldwide through a modern container terminal operated by ICTSI Oregon, Inc. – a top global stevedoring and terminal operating company,” added Steve Mickelson, marine marketing manager for the Port of Portland.