In a surprising change of plans, the US West Coast port of Portland last week announced it would keep Oregon? only international container terminal and continue to provide marine container shipping services at Portland? Terminal 6.
The Port had taken over operations at the pier in 2018, following a temporary shutdown under former operator ICTSI, but it recently decided that it was not sustainable to continue the loss-making container operations.
Portland thus in April announced that container service would cease in October.
A direct subsidy from the Oregon State Government now allows T6 to continue. A revised State budget for 2025 will also guarantee that channel maintenance in the lower Columbia River is carried out.
Portland Oregon is a niche container, located some 85 nm upriver from the Pacific Ocean. It is currently used by two container liner services to Asia.
MSC operates the ?hinook?service with a fleet of seven ships form 6,500 to 9,400 teu.
SM Line calls at Portland with its ?hina Pacific Express?(?PX?, which deploys six ships of 6,500 teu