Terminal 5 project faces slight delay

The Northwest Seaport Alliance Terminal 5 Modernization Project is a critical component to expanding the company’s cargo-handling capabilities.

Due to the complex nature of this large infrastructure construction combined with unforeseen circumstances, this project is now seeing schedule impacts, according to the NWSA.

To ensure project quality and a robust facility, the NWSA now expects Phase 1 of the project to be targeted for completion by the end of Q4, 2021, rather than the expected Q2 of 2021.

The NWSA will be providing a full project update during the March Managing Members meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 2nd at 11:30am.

The Port of Seattle, through the NWSA, a marine cargo partnership between the Port of Seattle and the Port of Tacoma, has approved a project to upgrade Terminal 5 to handle ultra-large container ships with a capacity of up to 18,000 containers.

The first phase of construction started in July 2019, with demolition of the north section of the dock, installation of new electrical infrastructure, pile driving and construction of the north segment of the dock. The completed north berth will include new crane rails, fendering, bollards and an underwater toe wall. A new primary substation will be constructed to supply power to the new cranes and provide shore power to vessels.

Phase 2 construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2021 and will include delivery of new cranes to the north dock and demolition and construction of the south portion of the dock. The completed south berth will include new crane rails, fendering, bollards and an underwater toe wall.

Phase 2 will be followed by dredging of the north and south berths to a depth of minus 57 feet (current depth is minus 45 to 50 feet).