Portland finds an operator for its sole container terminal
Portland Container Terminal Saved with New Operator
Oregon’s only container terminal, Portland’s Terminal 6, has secured its future with the appointment of a new management operator. California-based Harbor Industrial Services will take over operations, having previously provided support at the terminal since 2014. The lease agreement comes with a seven-year term, along with options for four additional extensions. In a significant move, the port will also transfer ownership of its ship-to-shore cranes to Harbor for $150,000.
A New Chapter for Terminal 6
The news comes after a turbulent period for Terminal 6, which faced the threat of closure when it was scheduled to stop operations on October 1 of last year. The terminal’s struggles stemmed from a loss of regular shipping line clients and the departure of its previous operator. In a bid to prevent the terminal’s shutdown, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek proposed a $40 million state funding initiative to keep it operational.
Previously, the terminal was managed by the Manila-based International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), which entered a 25-year agreement in 2010. However, after facing client departures and significant labor issues, ICTSI exited the port in 2017. A court later determined that labor disruptions, attributed to the local chapter of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), had negatively impacted shipping operations at Terminal 6.
This transition to Harbor Industrial Services marks a hopeful new beginning for Portland’s only container terminal, aiming to revitalize its operations and restore confidence among shipping lines and stakeholders in the region.
