Here’s why the new year is bringing more cargo ships – and trucks – to West Seattle’s Terminal 5 and Harbor Island’s Terminal 18

(SDOT camera image: Trucks lined up for West Seattle low bridge on Dec. 17)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

If you follow the Northwest Seaport Alliance‘s frequently updated ship-call schedule, you might have noticed a change: No cargo calls listed at Terminal 30 on the south downtown waterfront.

We received tips about the then-impending change after the topic of cargo-truck traffic came up last month, but hadn’t confirmed it until today.

NWSA spokesperson Melanie Stambaugh confirms to WSB that T-30 tenant SSA Marine “did announce toward the end of 2024 that they would be suspending operations at Terminal 30 due to their concern over increasingly unproven, over restrictive and costly water quality regulations. The existing cargo services will remain in the Seattle Harbor and be shifted to Terminal 18 and Terminal 5 for the foreseeable future.”

For T-5, for example, that means more ships and more shipping lines – the calls at both berths (the south berth opened last spring) had been mostly MSC, but now the schedule includes others, such as COSCO and OOCL. And Stambaugh says that as of this week, terminal operations have increased from four days a week to five days a week:

While the NWSA and SSA remain in disagreement over the respective contractual and legal obligations regarding Terminal 30, the two parties are entering into a short-term (approximately two month) agreement aimed at increasing the efficiency of North Harbor operations at Terminal 5 and Terminal 18. This short period will allow time to explore operational alternatives that will support the future success of SSA in Seattle while appropriately compensating the NWSA and ensuring the NWSA’s existing customer base continues to be well served.

The five-day per week gate operations should assist in reducing traffic impacts and began on the first of this month.

Though the schedule might change again before then, it currently shows both T-5 berths occupied next Tuesday and Wednesday, for example.

In the meantime, Stambaugh adds, “Terminal 30 remains functional and available for business. The Northwest Seaport Alliance is exploring options for continued cargo use at the terminal.” Back in the early ’00s, T-30 was a cruise-ship terminal.

We have a request out to SSA Marine for comment, looking for more information on why they chose to suspend cargo operations at T-30, and will add anything we find out.

Daniel January 3, 2025 (3:35 pm)

The “would be suspending operations at Terminal 30 due to their concern over increasingly unproven, over restrictive and costly water quality regulations” confuses me here. It’s the same waterway and regulations for T-30 vs T-5/18, right? And T-5 and T-18 are also SSA? I feel like I’m misreading something, or missing some context. Is T-30 just too old or something and fails some regulatory thing that’s handled okay by 5/18?

WSB January 3, 2025 (3:36 pm)

I’m still looking into that part. The T-30 area has a site that’s part of the King County Wastewater Treatment District’s “Mouth of the Duwamish” combined-sewer-overflow reduction project, but I don’t yet know if that’s what they’re referring to… TR

anonyme January 3, 2025 (4:33 pm)

And here’s why killer whale calves are dying…noise and pollution.

Terminal5 January 4, 2025 (10:02 am)

Out of all the terminals here in Seattle it is terminal five that is closest to high density residential population. It is well known that in every city with the port that port activity is a major source of air pollution, traffic congestion, and excessive noise. The port should use the other terminals as a top priority not terminal five Harbor Island was built specifically for that purpose. Additionally, the public should pressure the city of Seattle and the port of Seattle to. REQUIRE the use of short power. The issue of air and water pollution impacts every level of life on this planet. . We need to get serious about the health of ourselves, the whales, the heron, the planet…salmon, and every level of life. The City of Seatlle and the Port of Seatlle need to PROTECT instead of pollute!

Jeff January 4, 2025 (11:47 am)

The truck traffic to T5 is a major cause of pollution and gridlock. The truck traffic backs up on the I-5 in both directions. I’ve seen idling trucks all the way down to Boeing field. The Spokane viaduct totally gridlocked. On ramps at 1st Ave back up to sodo. The lower bridge and lower Spokane as well.the Pollution at T5 is terrible. I can hear loud metal banging constantly from my home in north admiral and can smell the pollution from the port daily. It’s a total nuisance.

wetone January 4, 2025 (11:56 am)

It seems like just yesterday that City and Port leaders were pushing this port through with the promises of little impact to roads, noise and environment ;) Maybe it’s just me but I surely have seen impacts to roadways, traffic, noise and pollution since T5 opened….and will only get worse with time.

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