The Port of Tacoma's container volumes will see another boost this year when Hamburg Sud and Hapag-Lloyd, in partnership with US Lines, bring a new service to Washington United Terminals (WUT) this summer.

Jointly operated by the shipping lines, the Oceania Service will connect Tacoma container services with Australia and New Zealand. It will bring an estimated 30,000 container units (TEUs) a year through the port when it begins calling here Aug. 10.

Earlier this week, the German shipping lines announced their Mediterranean Pacific Service will also call that same terminal beginning in early August.

The service changes stem from the Grand Alliance consortium's decision earlier this year to begin calling WUT at the end of June. Hamburg Sud is part of a vessel-sharing agreement with Hapag-Lloyd, who is a member of the Grand Alliance with Orient Overseas Container Line, NYK Line and associated carrier ZIM Integrated Shipping.

The bi-weekly service consists of two Hapag-Lloyd and two Hamburg Sud vessels. Cargo from Australia and New Zealand will include meat, wine, beer, medical instruments, agricultural products, stone and metals. Exports from the Pacific Northwest will include forest and agricultural products, meat, wine and machinery.

Washington United Terminals is a 105-acre container terminal on the Blair Waterway. The marine terminal features four post-Panamax and two super-post-Panamax cranes, capable of handling the largest ships in the world, on-dock rail and a newly extended berth measuring 2,600 feet.

About the Port of Tacoma
The Port of Tacoma is an economic engine for South Puget Sound, with more than 43,000 family-wage jobs in Pierce County and 113,000 jobs across Washington state connected to Port activities. A major gateway to Asia and Alaska, the Port of Tacoma is among the largest container ports in North America. The Port is also a major center for bulk, breakbulk and project/heavy-lift cargoes, as well as automobiles and trucks.