Issue link: https://jocdigital.uberflip.com/i/703653
26 THE JOURNAL OF COMMERCE www.joc.com JULY 2016 depth at the pier. In Seattle, the alliance offers Terminal 5, spanning 185 acres and featuring on-terminal rail and 50 feet of water dockside, for breakbulk and project cargo. Jaxport meets all the criteria for a thriving breakbulk hub. "The port has more than 1 million square feet of on-dock warehousing, ample laydown space for traditional breakbulk and project cargoes, port cranes capable of lifting most traditional breakbulk cargoes, a rail-served heavy-lift berth that can accommodate cargoes up to 1,800 pounds per square foot and on-dock rail service from two Class I railroads. Our port tenants maintain an excellent labor force that is skilled in the handling and care of a wide variety of breakbulk cargoes — whether it be paper rolls, wood pulp, wire rod, or large turbines and generators — as well as a fleet of equipment and tools needed to safely and efficiently handle them," Camp said. Though a typical voyage involves 70 to 100 containers, fully 70 percent of the freight carried by SCM Lines is some form of breakbulk. Capable of accessing low-draft ports, its multipurpose vessels have onboard cranes that can handle lifts up to 160 tons, enabling them to work independent of shoreside equipment. For the company's purposes, breakbulk is defined as "mainly loose or packaged freight, as well as cargo of unusual dimensions or weight," said Capt. Victor Valera, project manager. Currently, SCM is heavily involved in moving energy-related products from Houston to Venezuela. "We handle steel pipes, plates and beams destined for the oil industry. In addition, we also carry paper and lumber from the U.S. and Mexico," he said. Shippers of traditional breakbulks complain that ports and carriers have swept them aside in pursuit of container traffic. Any logistics enterprise interested in capturing a slice of the breakbulk pie must be aware of and address this concern. Elmaleh outlined their approach to convincing these shippers that they remain a priority; "The Northwest Seaport SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION OF THE JOURNAL OF COMMERCE