The Northwest Seaport Alliance moves forward with FMC approval

The once bitter rivalry between the ports of Tacoma and Seattle seems to have come to an end as both parties have entered into a joint marketing program designed to leverage the Puget Sound’s logistical advantage.

As reported in LM last spring, the Seattle and Tacoma port commissions planned to form The Northwest Seaport Alliance to unify management of the two ports’ marine cargo terminals and related functions. The two ports would, however, retain existing port commission governance and asset ownership.

Now that they have the full blessing of the The Federal Maritime Commission, port leaders say they will begin working together in earnest.

“Like any marriage, both sides will keep their separate identities,” says Susan Stoltzfus, a Port of Seattle media relations associate.

The Tacoma and Seattle ports currently comprise the third-largest ocean cargo container gateway in North America, and their marine cargo operations support more than 48,000 jobs.

One prominent job yet to be filled will be to replace Seattle’s outgoing maritime director, Linda Styrk, the former Managing Director. She recently resigned to accept a new position as Executive Director for the Puget Sound Pilots.

While this development may represent mere coincidence, it brings into question how organized longshore labor will view the alliance and implications for fewer dockside workers.

According to Stoltzfus, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union has not voice any objections…so far.

“Hopefully, the ILWU will view this as just a reconfiguration of terminal operations that will downsize some and upsize others,” she said.

The ILWU is part of an executive advisory council the ports created to hear from stakeholders on ways to improve cargo operations.

The FMC had recently given its blessings to the joint marketing efforts for the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and that relationship appears to be stronger.

“It’s far easier to promote the benefits of San Pedro Bay when we are both reading from the same page,” said POLA Director of Media Relations Philip Sanfield. “While we do not know all the details of the PNW alliance, we would assume that it’s driven to achieve cargo optimization…and that’s a good thing.”