b'42American Journal ofTransportation ajot.comBreakbulk making a comebackPort of Everett: Small port in Pacific Northwest thats going globalDespitetheexpectationthat2024breakbulkvolumeswillbeBoeing strike makes a dent, but the port is diversifying.lower than 2023, Washington state ports have a positive outlookBy Luke King, AJOTfor break bulk in the next few years. BigthingsarehappeningOver the last 10 years, weve at the Port of Everett in Wash- beenmakingsubstantialinfra-By Pete Goldin, AJOT ington state. CEO Lisa Lefeberstructureinvestmentsinorderthe first female leader in theto not only achieve the designa-Despite the expectation that 2024 break bulkopment at the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA),portsmorethan100-yearhis- tion, but also to be able to handle volumes will be lower than 2023, Washington statewhich includes the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, thetoryis just back from London,pretty much any type of cargo, ports have a positive outlook for break bulk in thelargest break bulk gateway in the region. where she collected an interna- Lefeber told AJOT.next few years. Elmaleh says break bulk volumes at Tacoma tionalawardinrecognitionofIts impossible to talk about Morethanadecadeago,breakbulkinthecurrently NWSAs primary break bulk porthavethe ports ability to handle over- Everett for long without thinking Pacific Northwest meant lumber. While those daystrailed off slightly during the last couple months.size cargo. of Boeing, the U.S. airplane man-are long gone, Pacific Northwest ports are seeingHowever, he adds, Break bulk has been increasingTheprize,awardedbytheufacturer and owner of the worlds a resurgence in break bulk, driven by equipmentall year, and we expect it to resume at a pretty briskHeavy Lift & Project Forwardinglargest building by volumethe fromAsiaincludingconstructionequipment,level in the new year. International magazine, is the cul- gigantic 98-acre Boeing produc-wind turbines and data center transformers. Elmaleh attributes the recent dip primarily tomination of the ports decade-longtioncenterlocatedinEverett. interest rates. The types of construction equipmentproject to finally obtain StrategicAwell-documentedstrikesaw n OrthWestg AteWAy that make up about 80% of Tacomas break bulkSeaport Designation, and increase(GLOBALcontinued on Weve had a fantastic year for break bulk, saysvolume can cost half a million dollars per unit, soits range of services.page 44)Andre Elmaleh, Senior Manager of Business Devel- interest rates on financing can have a huge impact. Plus, the fall is typically slower for Northwest Seaport Alliance Breakbulk Volume break bulk. But overall, he says the Northwest Seaport Alliance Breakbulk VolumeCargo Volume (Metric Tons)) ports break bulk volume is signifi-Cargo Volume (Metric Tons)) cantly greater than pre-pandemicBreakbulk Autos Petroleum Molasses and it is growing.Breakbulk Autos Petroleum Molasses Aberrations in shipping trends 2019 246,412 305,816 636,150 46,661 during the pandemic mean that the 2019 246,412 305,816 636,150 46,6612020 291,623 244,612 677,469 42,400 ports are not seeing linear increases 2020 2021 291,623 262,289 524,332 32,729 inbreakbulk,socomparisons 366,184 244,612 677,469 42,400withpre-pandemicperformance 2022 478,455 288,365 708,619 31,769 isamoreaccurateindicator.If 2021 366,184 262,289 524,332 32,7292022 2023 453,249 566,653 784,932 39,362 youremovethepandemicfrom 478,455 288,365 708,619 31,769YTD Sep 23356,062 413,244 603,297 31,112 theequation,breakbulkshows steady growth for Port of Tacoma. 2023 453,249 566,653 784,932 39,362VTD Sep 24 329,074 451,812 619,261 9,394 Forexample,NWSAbreakbulk YTD Sep 23356,062 413,244 603,297 31,112% Change YOY -7.6% 9.3% 2.6% -69.8% (COMEBACKcontinued on VTD Sep 24 329,074 451,812 619,261 9,394 page 45) Port of Everett CEO Lisa LefeberData provided by Northwest Seaport Alliance% Change YOY -7.6% 9.3% 2.6% -69.8%Data provided by Northwest Seaport AllianceA Leading Ocean Shipping& Logistics CompanyLiberty Global Logistics LLC 516-488-8800LibertyGL.com 1979 Marcus Avenue Suite #200, Lake Success, NY 11042'