Grays Harbor port approves bulk terminal lease
The Washington State Port of Grays Harbor on Oct. 14 approved a 20-year terminal lease with New Orleans-based liquid bulk shipping and storage firm Westway Terminals.
Port commissioners approved the contract for the 15-acre site, worth more than $13,000 a month in rent and taxes to the port. Westway plans to build a $15 million to $20 million distribution facility on the site with a capacity of 320,000 barrels. Westway, which operates facilities worldwide, expects to handle products including methanol and molasses at the facility. The facility is expected to be operational in November 2009 and see 15 shipments per year. The firm hopes to eventually double the number of shipments.
Officials of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 24, which represent workers at the port, opposed approval of the project because the union was not included in discussions about the lease and how it may impact the local union workforce. The ILWU doesn't oppose the Westway project, but asked that the lease approval be delayed until the workforce discussions could be held.
While declining to delay the approval, the port encouraged communications between the union and Westway. The project must still receive permitting approval before construction can proceed.