Port of Longview
Encyclopedia
The Port of Longview is a deep-water port authority
located in Longview
, on the Columbia River
in southwest Washington, United States
. It was established in 1921 by Washington state law, and operates as a unit of local government. The port is overseen by a locally elected, three-member board of commissioners. Each commissioner is elected for a six-year term and is directly responsible to the voters for port operations.
The Port manages and operates a marine terminal complex where domestic and international ship
s and barge
s arrive and depart, and bulk, break bulk and project cargos are loaded or unloaded by local labor union
workers. Union workers operate lifting and moving equipment including cranes
, forklifts
and reach stacker
s. These workers belong to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union
Local 21.
Transportation routes connecting to the Port include the Columbia River
shipping channel, the BNSF Railway
and Union Pacific
railroads, and north-south Interstate 5
, the main highway running from Mexico
to Canada
.
The Port also leases industrial land and contributes financially towards recreational projects in Cowlitz County.
, to encourage commercial and industrial development, and to enhance waterfront recreational activities for the economic benefit of the citizens of the Port district."
on the deep-draft Columbia River
shipping channel. It is approximately 120 driving miles from Seattle, Washington
and 40 miles from Portland, Oregon
. The Port district occupies the northern two-thirds of Cowlitz County
, from just north of Kalama, Washington
to the Lewis County
line.
and Union Pacific railroad main lines run parallel to Interstate 5
approximately five miles from the Port. The Longview Switching Company switches trains from the railroad main lines into the Port. From there, Port locomotives move trains and rail cars to the marine terminals and industrial locations.
to Canada
.
Facilities include eight marine terminals (docks), covered and uncovered warehouses, and open storage areas for temporary storage of cargo prior to loading on trucks, specialized trailers or rail cars.
In 1911, the state of Washington enacted laws allowing people to establish port districts and elect commissioners to administer those districts and oversee their development and operation. In 1921, the Port of Longview was established by a vote of the people residing within the local port district boundary (northern two-thirds of Cowlitz County, from just north of Kalama to the Lewis County line). Originally established as the Port of Kelso
, the Port was later changed by a vote of the people, to the Port of Longview, because a state law required ports to be named after the largest city within the district.
Original cargo activity consisted of forest products (logs and lumber
) exports to Asia
. These exports began to decrease in the 1980s, and today are no longer handled by the Port. To replace log cargos, the Port now handles steel, bulk and project cargos.
Port authority
In Canada and the United States a port authority is a governmental or quasi-governmental public authority for a special-purpose district usually formed by a legislative body to operate ports and other transportation infrastructure.Port authorities are usually governed by boards or...
located in Longview
Longview, Washington
Longview is a city in Cowlitz County, Washington, United States. It is the principal city of the "Longview, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area", which encompasses all of Cowlitz County. Longview's population was 36,648 at the time of the 2010 census and is the largest city in Cowlitz County...
, on the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
in southwest Washington, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was established in 1921 by Washington state law, and operates as a unit of local government. The port is overseen by a locally elected, three-member board of commissioners. Each commissioner is elected for a six-year term and is directly responsible to the voters for port operations.
The Port manages and operates a marine terminal complex where domestic and international ship
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
s and barge
Barge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
s arrive and depart, and bulk, break bulk and project cargos are loaded or unloaded by local labor union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
workers. Union workers operate lifting and moving equipment including cranes
Crane (machine)
A crane is a type of machine, generally equipped with a hoist, wire ropes or chains, and sheaves, that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to move them horizontally. It uses one or more simple machines to create mechanical advantage and thus move loads beyond the normal capability of...
, forklifts
Forklift truck
A forklift is a powered industrial truck used to lift and transport materials. The modern forklift was developed in the 1920s by various companies including the transmission manufacturing company Clark and the hoist company Yale & Towne Manufacturing...
and reach stacker
Reach Stacker
A Reach Stacker is one of the most flexible handling solutions whether to operate a small terminal or a medium sized port.Reach stackers are able to transport a container in short distances very quickly and pile them in various rows depending on its access....
s. These workers belong to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union
International Longshore and Warehouse Union
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union is a labor union which primarily represents dock workers on the West Coast of the United States, Hawaii and Alaska, and in British Columbia, Canada. It also represents hotel workers in Hawaii, cannery workers in Alaska, warehouse workers throughout...
Local 21.
Transportation routes connecting to the Port include the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
shipping channel, the BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
and Union Pacific
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
railroads, and north-south Interstate 5
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
, the main highway running from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
The Port also leases industrial land and contributes financially towards recreational projects in Cowlitz County.
Mission
"To provide expansion and development of foreign and domestic tradeDomestic market
A domestic market is a financial market. Its trades are aimed toward a single market. A domestic market is also referred to as domestic trading...
, to encourage commercial and industrial development, and to enhance waterfront recreational activities for the economic benefit of the citizens of the Port district."
Location
The Port of Longview is located 66 river miles inland from the Pacific OceanPacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
on the deep-draft Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
shipping channel. It is approximately 120 driving miles from Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
and 40 miles from Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. The Port district occupies the northern two-thirds of Cowlitz County
Cowlitz County, Washington
Cowlitz County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census its population was 102,410. It forms the Longview, Washington, Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Cowlitz County. The county seat is at Kelso, and its largest city is Longview...
, from just north of Kalama, Washington
Kalama, Washington
Kalama is a city in Cowlitz County, Washington, United States. It is part of the 'Longview, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area'. The population was 2,344 at the 2010 census.-History:...
to the Lewis County
Lewis County, Washington
Lewis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of 2010, the population was 75,455. The county seat is at Chehalis, and its largest city is Centralia....
line.
Rail
The BNSF RailwayBNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
and Union Pacific railroad main lines run parallel to Interstate 5
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
approximately five miles from the Port. The Longview Switching Company switches trains from the railroad main lines into the Port. From there, Port locomotives move trains and rail cars to the marine terminals and industrial locations.
Highway
The Port is located approximately three miles from north-south Interstate 5, the main roadway stretching from MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Facilities
- Berth 1 – import bulk facility, general cargo and domestic cruise line terminal
- Berth 2 – export bulk facility operated by Kinder MorganKinder MorganKinder Morgan, Inc. is an American energy company. It is also, through a subsidiary, the general partner of and owner of many of the interests in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, a publicly traded pipeline and terminal limited partnership....
Terminals for agri-products, chemical, and minerals - Berth 4 – bulk loading terminal available for redevelopment
- Berth 5 – Petroleum coke export facility operated by the Port for BP
- Berth 6 – general cargo berth handling paper, steel products and project cargo
- Berth 7 – general cargo, barge loading and import bulk terminal
- Berth 8 – multi-purpose dock handling general cargo, project cargo, forest products and steel
- Berth 9 – future development
Types of cargo
- Dry Bulk: petroleum cokePetroleum cokePetroleum coke is a carbonaceous solid derived from oil refinery coker units or other cracking processes. Other coke has traditionally been derived from coal....
, potashPotashPotash is the common name for various mined and manufactured salts that contain potassium in water-soluble form. In some rare cases, potash can be formed with traces of organic materials such as plant remains, and this was the major historical source for it before the industrial era...
, soda ash, soya mealSoybeanThe soybean or soya bean is a species of legume native to East Asia, widely grown for its edible bean which has numerous uses...
, talcTalcTalc is a mineral composed of hydrated magnesium silicate with the chemical formula H2Mg34 or Mg3Si4O102. In loose form, it is the widely-used substance known as talcum powder. It occurs as foliated to fibrous masses, its crystals being so rare as to be almost unknown...
, pencil pitch, bentonite clayBentoniteBentonite is an absorbent aluminium phyllosilicate, essentially impure clay consisting mostly of montmorillonite. There are different types of bentonite, each named after the respective dominant element, such as potassium , sodium , calcium , and aluminum . Experts debate a number of nomenclatorial...
, oats, industrial salt - Break bulk: steelSteelSteel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
, paper, wood pulpWood pulpPulp is a lignocellulosic fibrous material prepared by chemically or mechanically separating cellulose fibres from wood, fibre crops or waste paper. Wood pulp is the most common raw material in papermaking.-History:...
, logs, lumber, forest products, - Project: wind turbineWind turbineA wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used to produce electricity, the device may be called a wind generator or wind charger. If the mechanical energy is used to drive machinery, such as for grinding grain or...
components (towers, blades, nacelles, nose cones), electrical generators, oversize components for industrial and manufacturing applications
History
Kelso, Washington
Kelso is a city in southwest Washington State, United States, and is the county seat of Cowlitz County. At the 2010 census, the population was 11,925. Kelso is part of the Longview, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 102,410. Kelso shares its long western border...
, the Port was later changed by a vote of the people, to the Port of Longview, because a state law required ports to be named after the largest city within the district.
Original cargo activity consisted of forest products (logs and lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
) exports to Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. These exports began to decrease in the 1980s, and today are no longer handled by the Port. To replace log cargos, the Port now handles steel, bulk and project cargos.
Commissioners
- T. D. Dungan - 1921-24
- D. M. Atkins - 1921-24
- Elias Holbrook - 1921-24
- R. H. Barr - 1925-33
- Andrew Schwarz - 1924-24
- E. W. Ross - 1924-24
- Frank Dallam, Jr. - 1934-35
- Jess Schwarz - 1925-26
- Charles H. Olson - 1925-30
- W. C. Nikolaus - 1935-40
- J. Perry Burcham - 1927-32
- Luke L. Goodrich - 1930-50
- Walter S. Talbott - 1940-42
- A. A. Byrnes - 1933-40
- M. R. Couch - 1950-53
- N. F. Anderson - 1942-44
- George H. Umbaugh - 1940-69
- H. I. Quigley - 1953-69
- Roy Taylor - 1944-55
- James S. Baker - 1969-75
- Ralph G. Nolte - 1969-89
- William Graham - 1955-62
- Roy G. Dennis - 1976-81
- M. E. Norman - 1962-73
- Floyd V. Carpenter - 1982-87
- Richard F. Olson - 74-78
- Jerry Nestaval - 1988-93
- Larry M. Larson - 1978-2007
- J. Walter Barham - 1990-07
- Daniel J. Buell - 1994-present
- Roger Allen - 2007-2007
- Darold Dietz - 2007-present
- Bob Bagaason - 2007-present
Managers
- H. L. Tabke - 1925-27
- Frank Gowdy - 1927-43
- Harvey Hart - 1943-73
- Bob McNannay - 1973-86
- Brian Fladager - 1986-87
- Ken O'Hollaren - 1988-present
Further reading
- International Logistics, Donald F. Wood....[et al.], 2nd ed., (2002), ISBN 0-8144-0666-1 (AMACOM), New York, NY, 9. Seaports, Airports, Canals, and Tunnels, p. 226. Fig. 9-1 Longview, Washington
External links
- Port of Longview (official website)
- Washington Public Ports Association (official website)