EVERETT—The Port of Everett Seaport has been honored with the prestigious title of 2024 Port/Terminal Operator of the Year by Heavy Lift and Project Forwarding International.
Recent maritime investments, quality customer service, high environmental standards, and a strong commitment to handling heavy lift and project cargoes safely and efficiently were among key factors in the Port of Everett earning this top honor.
“Congratulations are in order for the Port of Everett, which scooped the 2024 Port/Terminal Operator of the Year award,” said David Kershaw, Editor of Heavy Lift and Project Forwarding International. “The Heavy Lift Awards recognizes the very best that the project logistics and specialized transport sector has to offer and in this hotly contested category, our judges acknowledged the Port of Everett for its diversified operations and strong investment in project and breakbulk facilities. With more than $150 million invested to modernize seaport facilities and expand capabilities over the past decade, the gateway is well positioned to play a vital role in the heavy lift and project cargo supply chain, both now and in the future. This recognition is well deserved.”
The Port of Everett Seaport is the third largest container port in Washington state, and is the region’s premier breakbulk cargo facility for its niche in handling high-value, conventional and overdimensional cargoes in support of the aerospace, manufacturing, military, construction, agriculture and energy industries.
Most notably, the Port serves as an extension of the regional aerospace manufacturing process, handling all of the oversized aerospace parts for the 767, 777, 777X and K-C Tanker programs.
PORT COMMISSION REACTION
“This award highlights the Port of Everett’s commitment to our customers and our region, as well as our long-time dedication to providing superior customer service and handling cargo with care. The Port supports upwards of $21 billion on annual exports and more than 40,000 jobs, further cementing the significance of our seaport as Snohomish County’s only global gateway.”– Tom Stiger, Port Commission President
“This level of industry recognition is a huge achievement for the Port of Everett. This award is a testament of our team’s hard work and dedication in delivering our mission of bringing new economic opportunity and jobs to the region through maritime investments that not only enhance the global movement of goods, but also, doing so in a way that protects our environment into the future.”– David Simpson, Port Commission Vice President
“In my time serving the port industry, I’m blown away seeing and experiencing the breadth of what the Port of Everett is capable of, specifically in its high and heavy project cargo handling for major industries – from aerospace and military to construction, energy and beyond. It’s an incredible honor to receive this international recognition and be celebrated among our peers.” – Glen Bachman, Port Commission Secretary
Over the past decade, the Port has invested more than $150 million to modernize and green its facilities to further support local aerospace logistics, expand cargo opportunities and provide flexible infrastructure to support industry and emerging project cargo.
Most recently, the Port opened its new 40-acre Norton Terminal in 2022. This marked the first all-new cargo terminal to open on the West Coast in more than a decade, adding critical cargo capacity to the national freight network to enhance movement of commerce throughout the global supply chain.
The $40 million investment completed environmental cleanup and redevelopment of the former Kimberly-Clark mill site into a maritime hub that today supports 950 jobs. The investment removed more than 250,000 tons of legacy contamination and installed a 9-inch-thick pavement cap that provides environmental controls and the site’s first ever stormwater treatment to keep our waters clean into the future.
Norton Terminal nearly doubled the Port’s cargo-handling footprint and fully realized the Port’s previous $57 million investment in its South Terminal modernization that added another full-service berth in Everett in 2021. That project strengthened an underutilized wharf, added infrastructure for shorepower, and added two, 100-foot-gauge gantry cranes to support aerospace logistics, handle heavier cargoes and facilitate cargo diversification.
“Earning this title is such an honor,” said Carl Wollebek, Port of Everett Chief Operating Officer for the Seaport. “This award is a true testament of the collective effort our team puts in every day to better serve our customers, tenants and the greater Everett community. With more than 60 percent of jobs tied to trade in Snohomish County, we continuously look for ways to expand our cargo handling capabilities and keep freight moving efficiently.”
The Port of Everett has been a shortlist candidate in the Port/Terminal Operator of the Year award category for the past five years, earning highly commended in the category in 2022.
The Heavy Lift Awards took place Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. More than 350 industry professionals gathered to connect on maritime business and celebrate the major achievements of the award winners among their 10 award categories.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HEAVY LIFT AWARDS.
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
