Oregon Container Terminal officially launches

OCT, Oregon’s only international container gateway, will be operated by Harbor Industrial Services under a long-term lease with the Port of Portland. OCT offers direct vessel services, dual-rail connectivity via BNSF and Union Pacific, and future barge services connecting with inland locations. The terminal will support agriculture, manufacturing, technology and retail shippers. Weekly container service has already begun.

The launch also featured the debut of Harbor Industrial’s Ship Oregon initiative, aimed at encouraging businesses to move their cargo through Oregon ports as a way to reduce overall transportation costs, reduce roadway emissions and congestion, and support Oregon-centric supply chains.

Signalling OCT’s importance, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek said: “Global connections like these give Oregon a competitive edge and help secure our economic future.

“They ensure that cranberries grown along the coast, hay harvested in the Willamette Valley, wheat from Eastern Oregon, and products made in the Portland metro area can reach global markets efficiently, competitively and sustainably.”   “OCT is about reliability, growth and partnership,” said Tim McCarthy, president of OCT, who moderated the launch ceremony.

“This terminal gives shippers from Oregon and inland locations a stable, efficient and competitive gateway, backed by 210 acres of already developed infrastructure, experienced operators and a skilled workforce with a proven record of productivity.”

Last week, Kaleris completed a multi-phase deployment of its RTG Optimisation (RTG-O) solution at Port Houston, which operates two of the nation’s busiest container terminals.