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Port of Coos Bay to construct multimodal container terminal

[ September 7, 2021   //   ]

The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay announced on September 1 that it has partnered with NorthPoint Developmentto construct a multimodal container facility on the North Spit. The Port and NorthPoint have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the project, with the intention of finalizing negotiations and signing a contract by the end of the calendar year.
NorthPoint and the Port estimate that the facility, once fully constructed, will move over one million TEUs annually in and outbound through the Port of Coos Bay via the Coos Bay Rail Line. The rail spur on the North Spit will be extended to the project site and infrastructure improvements throughout the line will be completed to accommodate double stack container movements.
Congestion at major west coast ports has continued to worsen for decades, creating bottlenecks that slow the movement of goods and increase greenhouse gas emissions. NorthPoint views the Coos Bay harbor as an opportunity to create an environmentally conscious, state of the art gateway which will alleviate congestion throughout the west coast and improve the movement of goods in and out of the United States and international markets.
“The Coos Bay Harbor offers an innovative solution to an ever-growing global challenge,” said Chad Meyer, President and Founding Partner of NorthPoint. “We have an opportunity to enhance the economy of the region while improving the logistics system as a whole.”
The new terminal will promote expedited turn time and eliminate anchoring for maritime vessels, a shipping option greatly needed in the marketplace. As of August 29th, the ports of L.A. and Long Beach had 47 vessels anchored offshore waiting to berth. Anchored vessels add significant costs in shipping, delays in product delivery and increased greenhouse gas emissions.
Currently, the majority of imports and exports moving in and out of Oregon travel by truck via the ports of Seattle/Tacoma and Oakland. This adds to the total delivered cost of products and commodities, roadway congestion, and increased greenhouse gas emissions. Utilizing the Coos Bay Rail Line to transport containers instead of trucks will reduce overall emissions up to seventy-five percent.
The Port also continues work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other regulatory agencies on the Channel Modification Project. This project will deepen and widen the federally authorized channel from -37′ to -45′ Mean Lowest Low Water (MLLW) and 300′ to 450′ nominal width. Deepening and widening the channel is necessary for the Port to remain competitive in the global marketplace as ocean carriers continue to utilize larger ships, a trend that has continued for well over a half century.

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