Terminal 5’s future: No buyer for cranes; new public-comment time for modernization project

Two updates tonight on the future of the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 5 in northeastern West Seattle:

(December 2014 photo by Long Bach Nguyen)
GETTING RID OF THE CRANES: After the port closed the terminal, separate from interim leasing including the Foss/Shell use, it announced plans to sell the six cranes on the site, saying they had been appraised as worth $3.75 million. Ten months later, no buyer(s) have surfaced, so the port wants to pay someone an estimated $4.6 million to take away the six T-5 cranes and one at Terminal 46 on the downtown waterfront. From a briefing paper accompanying last Tuesday’s Port Commission meeting agenda:

Cranes No. 61, 62, 63, 64, 66, and 68 are located at Terminal 5. They were purchased from PACECO Corporation and are classified as post-panamax cranes having a gauge of 100 feet and a lifting capacity of 50 long tons. Crane 54 is located on Terminal 46 and is an IHI crane classified as a panamax having a capacity of 40 long tons and a gauge of 50 feet.

Port staff advertised the cranes in trade journals, contacted used equipment dealers, and reached out to other ports, but received limited interest and no offers. Unfortunately, there are a number of used cranes similar to the PACECOs on the market with very few buyers. There is no market for the IHI crane and it has been inactive since 2008. The result is the Port will have to issue a major public-works contract to have the cranes removed from the terminals.

And that has to be done fast, the port says, because some demolition work is planned at T-5 “in early 2016.” Port spokesperson Peter McGraw tells WSB a final decision is expected at the July 14th commission meeting; this week, along with this briefing, he says commissioners ratified a cost increase in a separate contract to remove three cranes at Terminal 18, which will now cost $1.8 million.

COMMENT TIME FOR MODERNIZATION PLAN: Another public-comment period is now open for the modernization work itself, according to this notice published in the city’s most-recent Land Use Information Bulletin, which summarizes the project as:

Shoreline Substantial Development Application to allow improvements to existing container cargo facility (Terminal 5). Project includes removal and replacement of portions of pier structure, including crane rails, decking and piling, dredging of approximately 29,800 cu. yds. of sediment, and under pier shoreline stabilization. Project also includes installation of an electrical substation and utility upgrades.

You can use this form to send a comment to the city Department of Planning and Development; the deadline is July 24th. You can find what’s been filed with the city by going here and putting 3019071 in the “project number” search box on the left side.

34 Replies to "Terminal 5's future: No buyer for cranes; new public-comment time for modernization project"

  • dsa June 26, 2015 (10:27 pm)

    Somebody should make money taking them across the street to get melted down.

    • WSB June 26, 2015 (10:45 pm)

      That’s addressed in the Port’s briefing paper (linked in the story), which includes five other options, one of which would be having the port itself sell them for scrap, but says that would cost the port even more because it would have to pay the removal contractor extra to compensate for the contractor not getting revenue from selling the cranes for scrap…

  • JanS June 26, 2015 (10:50 pm)

    maybe, just maybe, they should remove them themselves…save paying a contractor. Or find some of those guys who like to steal metal in the wee hours of night, and let them have at it…they’d think they hit the jackpot !. Where is this money going to come from?

  • Ray June 26, 2015 (11:13 pm)

    Something is not right here. They have definite value, but the Port will spend MORE than that value to remove them.. I can pretty much guarantee that whomever they contract with will not only make the millions from the Port but will sell them off for an additional profit.

    Why does the Port not just offer them for FREE with the expectation that the other party must pay for the removal.\If this goes to contract, the Port should demand that whomever takes the cranes cannot resell them to other parties.

  • ChefJoe June 27, 2015 (12:31 am)

    Ray,
    look into what happened with the old fireboat Alki and additional prep work to try to actually complete a sale. Heck, look at the recent history of the Kalakala. About the only thing less valuable than an old boat broken down as scrap metal seems to be an old crane that’s not been running for several (or 7) years.
    .
    Personally, I’d enjoy seeing one of them up on the olympic sculpture park area, maybe even climb the thing as an urban obstacle… but that would probably descend into some homeless shelter like the old gasworks park equipment and wouldn’t be an inexpensive move either.

  • CraneDude June 27, 2015 (2:06 am)

    Already on it, hoping to save the city a few bucks with some citizen action!

    http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/hvo/5094750935.html

  • Smitty June 27, 2015 (6:10 am)

    Every time I drive by that area I envision it being covered in field turf and used for soccer, football and baseball fields.

    Lots of parking and what a great view!

  • LyndaB June 27, 2015 (11:23 am)

    Maybe we can put them end to end and make another bridge across Elliot Bay!

  • RT June 27, 2015 (11:55 am)

    Agree with Ray. Offer them free….removal up to the recipient. If that doesn’t work, keep them and decorate them.

  • Ray West June 27, 2015 (12:01 pm)

    Turn the entire area into a public marine park. The cranes would make for an interesting feature, much like Gasworks Park.

  • rob June 27, 2015 (12:09 pm)

    Move the Vashon ferry there along with the water taxi this makes for an easy connection to downtown and put in a park and ride also. Charge a little for parking which could be used for security. and there would still be room for soccer field and other sports fields. This would mean work for a lot of people to build it. Then turn the Funtleroy dock into a public peer . oh and by moving the Vashon ferry there would help cut the traffic through WS This is all just a thought

  • Brandon June 27, 2015 (12:15 pm)

    Not surprised the Port had no fore sight into the extinction and life span of the machinery. They couldn’t see this coming before they were obsolete? And have to PAY to remove them. smh.

  • redblack June 27, 2015 (1:37 pm)

    has anyone noticed a reduction in swing bridge openings since T-5 shut down? there are far fewer -if any – trucks along that route these days.
    .
    with improved signal timing and new real/smart traffic signage along the spokane street corridor, T-5 could be a nifty transit hub that includes ferries and some limited-but-effective retail. it might even provide space and right-of-way for a short LINK spur bridge into SODO.
    .
    spot on, rob. let’s seize the day before royal dutch shell does.

  • they June 27, 2015 (2:44 pm)

    Pay to have them removed…are you kidding me! Just leave pieces of copper pipe crumbs littered from the street to and unlocked gate, The metal thieves will take it from there.

  • jetcitydude June 27, 2015 (3:26 pm)

    Those cranes are way outdated and slow compared to the new ones. I vote that they should be used as artificial reefs to bring back fish to an area that needs help. They do that with cable cars already.

  • Matt S. June 27, 2015 (3:37 pm)

    Nice work there, CraneDude.

  • Hot Coffee June 27, 2015 (4:02 pm)

    Rob FTW. Love the ideas!
    ..
    Unfortunately the Port Commission doesn’t care about any of that. Cargo and the union jobs that support it are more important than people, aesthetics or community. And the revenue potential of those square acres is enormous – the city could not afford to repurpose them in such an intelligent way.
    ..
    Scrapping those six giants would entail enormous work leading to probably at best break even financials, so even at free you won’t get takers. Hopefully they made enough profit off of those beasts over the years to cover the costs of removing them. And all just to clear way for even larger ones that will need to be removed again some later day once they’re outsized.

  • KEXP-luvr June 27, 2015 (5:15 pm)

    Preference for T5 is to deep dredge it so it can remain relevant by accomidating larger container vessels. If the Sea-Tac region is over capacity for containerized freight handling (some say it’s k my operating at 50% capacity now), the. It would be excellent to turn T5 into a motocross track and 1000yard rifle range.

  • Justin June 27, 2015 (7:07 pm)

    What’s clear in these comments is just how little the general public understands the supply chain industry. In an Era in which truly massive ships are becoming the standard, Cranes built to service the ships from the 90’s are simply not going to perform adequately. The port is making an informed decision based on real market conditions. Though I have to admit I kinda like the sculpture idea…

  • PSf June 27, 2015 (9:22 pm)

    The port of Seattle needs to be split. We’ve got a money losing port sucking resources from taxpayers and from an income generating airport. Split them and let each show true PnLs.

    Soon the port will be paying vessels to offload.

  • H June 27, 2015 (10:06 pm)

    I love the cranes. Olympic Sculpture Park… a marine park on site… all excellent ideas.

  • Leon A Harman June 28, 2015 (8:31 am)

    Create a master ferry terminal for:
    1.Seattle cross sound ferries, Vashon, Bremerton,and all points North.
    2. Return Alaskan ferry to now unused Colman Dock and create new facilities for all Alaskan Cruise ships. Tourists can now walk uptown. This will have major impact in attracting Tourists to Seattle.
    3. Remodel Cove Park to accommodate small skiff boat launching.
    4. These actions will reduce traffic on Fauntleroy Avenue.
    5. Alaskan Oil Rigs will now need to seek another home port.

  • Ray West June 28, 2015 (9:05 am)

    Justin and Hot Coffee–you both make excellent points. Unfortunately, the Port of Seattle has become, at least in the past, so expensive for international shipping companies to do business with, that they are being priced out of the market as more trade goods pass through Tacoma, Everett, and Bellingham. I’m sure they, too, are modernizing their facilities to be even more competitive and, ultimately, cheaper. I can see Seattle investing billions of our tax dollars in upgrading facilities here only to continue losing business to other ports. If that is the case, then re-purposing this area for some other use may not be such a bad idea after all.

  • Jim June 28, 2015 (5:40 pm)

    You are right Ray West. The Port is like a leech that will not stop sucking your blood (tax dollars)unless you force it to stop. It will spend your money to sustain itself no matter how bleak the business model looks. And their container handling business model is not a good one.

  • Porter Cable June 28, 2015 (8:52 pm)

    Calm down. Port of Seattle taxes account for 1.9% of your property tax bill. Just because some people took a kayak trip doesn’t make them an expert on maritime economics – or anything else, for that matter.

  • Westside Hipster June 28, 2015 (9:03 pm)

    This is the time to act and let our West Seattle voices be heard. The Port wants to make this huge gamble with our tax dollars. If they lose on the bet then its another massive sunk public works project on our history books. However, if they win then it will be a constant 24/7 assault on our peaceful West Seattle neighborhood. The Port is not addressing the additional traffic on the bridge nor the increased noise that will occur because of increased train traffic due to ramped up operations. Please make your voice heard to the Seattle DPD. Don’t let the Port bulldoze us.

  • innocent bystander June 28, 2015 (9:13 pm)

    When we have squeezed 300k miles out of a car and it costs more money to remove it then it would to sell it, do we say that the whole project was a waste of money, or do we say we got our money’s worth year after year?

  • ChefJoe June 29, 2015 (12:03 am)

    Westside Hipster, I doubt anything the port could do would be enough for you, but they’re contributing a bit under 9% of the cost of the AWV rebuild (although some of that is likely from the port tax levy authority).

  • Ray West June 29, 2015 (8:35 am)

    In my perfect little world this space would become a combination of a public marine park, combo Vashon ferry terminal and water taxi dock with a park & ride lot or shuttle bus from a nearby one, retail shops, restaurants, galleries, amusement venues, residential condos (that don’t leak in 4-5 years), and let’s throw in a maritime museum along with that. Think of all the tax revenue from that. Yes, these are all grandiose ideas that will never happen, but we need to never stop being visionary in hopes of developing a better plan than the one we are being served now. Keep the ideas coming folks. I love reading them.

  • Ray West June 29, 2015 (8:50 am)

    Porter Cable, I hear you about how this is a small percentage of our property tax bill, but the issue for me is how that money is being used and what return on it are we getting for our “investment.” Even if what we paid to the Port was less than a tenth of a percent of our property tax, I want that money used in the most responsible and productive way as possible, and with public input. We are talking about billions of dollars here. No one wants to see that wasted when it could be put to better use.

  • Jim June 29, 2015 (9:22 am)

    Porter Cable – Why does the Port need so much money from us in the first place? If the cargo container operation isn’t profitable, it shouldn’t be pursued. Subsidizing jobs with tax dollars is a net loss if you are propping up a bad business model.

  • ChefJoe June 29, 2015 (12:00 pm)

    Is the Port a simple business or does is it also a service to the region Jim ? Did bertha and the replacement parts arrive by train after being shipped to the Port of Tacoma ?

    If the ferries are being subsidized by tax dollars we’re just propping up a bad business model ? how about King County Metro/Sound Transit ?

  • Jim June 29, 2015 (1:14 pm)

    ChefJoe – You bring up the right question. Unloading containers at Terminal 5 is a simple business and supplies no more service to the region than any other for-profit business would supply on that land.
    “High paying jobs” you say? Sure, those getting their pay supplemented with taxpayer dollars are all for us paying to keep cargo handling alive in Seattle.

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