PNW Gateway Decision Very Near

Commissioners representing the ports of Seattle and Tacoma met July 28, 2015, to discuss details to be discussed August 4, 2015, to vote on the fate of the proposed Seaport Alliance. Issues discussed were primarily budgets and bylaws. Spokesperson for the Port of Tacoma, Tara Mattina, said: “The two commissions are still discussing what the management structure might look like for the Seaport Alliance. Where we are working together is in marketing, so some of the executives went back to Asia last fall to call on customers. It was the first time we’d ever done that. “We were very encouraged by what they said. A lot of them said “What took you so long?” She said the two ports are talking about how they can work together to create an operation service center that will set up some real key performance indicators that will enable the alliance to report back out to our customers on how quickly the ports are working the terminals. She also said the two ports are discussing joint lobbying initatives. “The Alliance will give us a bigger, stronger voice as the third largest container gateway and we can push for reform of the Harbor Maintenance Tax and investments in road and rail infrastructure to support the investments we are making in the terminals to make them big-ship ready.