SSA Terminals (Seattle Terminals), LLC (SSAT/ST), a joint venture between SSA Terminals and Terminal Investment Ltd. (TiL), and The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) proudly announce the opening of Phase 2 of the Terminal 5 Modernization Program. This strategic expansion project has culminated in a two-berth international container facility that is welcoming MSC Lily as the inaugural vessel to call the fully modernized Terminal.

Construction commenced in July 2019, fueled by a joint investment of more than half a billion dollars from NWSA, SSAT/ST and its partners. This strategic modernization endeavor increased cargo capacity, creates job opportunities in the Puget Sound region, and ensures the NWSA gateway remains competitive in the trans-pacific trade for years to come.

In January 2022, the reconfigured North berth opened to cargo ships with the completion of Phase One of the Modernization Project. With Phase Two operational, the full terminal boasts 185-acres of cargo capacity.

Key features of the Terminal 5 renovations include two reconfigured berths with six state-of-the-art super-post Panamax cranes to enhance operational efficiency. On-dock rail facilities, along with additional refrigerated plug-ins, will offer increased benefits to agricultural exporters while also reducing truck traffic near Terminal 5.

“The opening of Phase 2 of Terminal 5 marks a significant milestone for both economic expansion and increased sustainable operations in the NWSA gateway.,” stated Hamdi Mohamed, Port of Seattle Commission President and NWSA Co-Chair. “Together with our partners, the terminal boasts investments in shore power, state-of-the-art stormwater systems, and hybrid-electric equipment alongside increased cargo capacity which ensures more goods can move through the terminal in a sustainable and efficient manner.”

“SSAT/ST is proud to partner with the Northwest Seaport Alliance to completes Phase 2 of the Terminal 5 modernization project,” said Ed DeNike, President of SSA Marine’s container division. “Investing in the development of Terminal 5’s capabilities is a tremendous opportunity to meet the growing needs of our customers in the Puget Sound region, drive increased cargo volumes, and add jobs, all of which will help support the growth of the NWSA gateway into the future.”

“The modernized and upgraded Terminal 5 facility will become one of the key assets in the Pacific Northwest, being one of the few facilities that can handle 24,000 TEU vessels and offering a second-to-none on-dock rail service,” responded Tom Van Eynde, Managing Director North America of TiL. “Capitalizing on a strong local consumer market, Terminal 5 will allow us to offer also an attractive gateway for intermodal cargo.”

“MSC through our terminal investment arm Terminal Investment Limited (TiL) is thrilled to announce this historic modernization project. We look forward to the opportunities that this project will bring to the region. Through this effort, American businesses, farmers, and consumers will substantially benefit from increased trade capacity that enhances the U.S. west coast’s access to ever-expanding global markets.” Stated Stanley Kwiaton, MSC’s Regional Manager-West Coast, Port Operations 

“The men and women of ILWU Local 19 are focused on the future. We are excited to show our customers, the region, and the world what we are capable of, which is a high level of productivity and efficiency. The opening of the South berth will give us that additional opportunity,” stated Rich Austin, President of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 19.

 “Terminal 5 offers on-dock rail and expanded refrigerated plugs that support imports and exports moving to local markets and U.S. Midwest locations,” stated Kristin Ang, Port of Tacoma Commission President and NWSA Co-Chair. “The Northwest Seaport Alliance recognizes that investing in strategic infrastructure is critical to remaining competitive along the West Coast and driving economic opportunities across the Pacific Northwest region.”

The Terminal 5 Modernization project marks a significant advancement in environmental milestones in the NWSA gateway. Terminal 5 is the first international container terminal to offer shore power capability at two berths.  Being equipped with shore power, both berths will enable vessels to plug into the City of Seattle’s clean electric grid instead of utilizing the ships’ diesel engines. This enhancement will reduce vessel emissions while at berth and support the NWSA’s sustainability initiatives.

Three hybrid rubber tire gantry (RTG) cranes, purchased by SSAT/ST, will also be available to move containerized cargo on the terminal and represent one of the first investments in hybrid cargo handling equipment in the NWSA gateway.

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About The Northwest Seaport Alliance:

The Northwest Seaport Alliance, which includes the marine cargo operations of the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, is the fourth-largest container gateway in the United States. The NWSA also manages breakbulk, auto and bulk terminals and handled nearly 3.0 million TEUs and over 23.8 million tons of other cargo in 2023.

About SSA Terminals (Seattle Terminals), LLC / SSA Marine:

SSA Terminals (Seattle Terminals), LLC (SSAT/ST), is a joint venture between SSA Marine, Matson, Inc. and Terminal Investment Ltd. (TiL). SSA Marine is one of the world’s leading independent, privately held marine terminal operators, with activities at more than 250 terminal facilities and rail operations throughout geographies in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America and Asia. Since its founding in 1949, SSA Marine has continued to grow, always focusing on its customers’ interests.

About Terminal Investment Limited (TiL):

Terminal Investment Limited – owned by Mediterranean Shipping Company, Global Infrastructure Partners and GIC – is one of the world’s largest and most geographically diverse container terminal businesses. TiL manages over 70 container terminals across 27 countries in 5 continents. For more than 2 decades now TiL has continued an average growth in excess of 10% per year, with more growth to come in the US through new terminals under development and material expansion plans in its existing US facilities.