Port welcomes MARAD Administrator for tour of Terminal 4 Expansion & Redevelopment Project
Press Release:
September 29, 2023
Contact: Kayla Dunlap, Director of Government & Public Affairs
kdunlap@portgrays.org or 360-533-9590
Aberdeen, WASH. - The Port of Grays Harbor proudly hosted U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) Administrator Rear Admiral Ann C. Phillips, U.S. Navy (Retired), for a briefing and tour on the Terminal 4 Expansion & Redevelopment Project (T4 Project) on Thursday morning.
Ag Processing Inc a cooperative (AGP), the Port’s largest marine terminal customer, joined the Port in briefing the Administrator and her staff, along with Federal Maritime Commissioner Max Vekich, on AGP’s proposed expansion to double their U.S. soybean meal export capacity by developing a new export facility at Terminal 4B. As a co-product of soybean processing, soybean meal exports are expected to increase in response to the growing demand for renewable fuel feedstocks, including soybean oil. The group was also able to tour AGP’s existing operations at Terminal 2 in addition to the proposed expansions at Terminal 4.
“It is important for me to visit transformational port projects like this which are an example of how the port infrastructure development program is vital for a community. This project will create long-term job opportunities and improve the movement of goods, while building supply chain resilience,” commented MARAD Administrator Rear Admiral Ann Phillips.
“AGP whole-heartedly applauds the federal government’s investment in port infrastructure at the Port of Grays Harbor which directly benefits the export of U.S. agricultural products, primarily soybean meal, which is an animal feed source created from processing soybeans,” shared AGP CEO Chris Schaffer. “We are confident this investment will pay dividends for decades to come.”
The Port was awarded a Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grant last fall for the T4 Project and has been working diligently with MARAD since to obligate the funds. The T4 Project is critical to the Port’s ability to accommodate AGP’s growth, attract private investment, increase international shipments of soymeal, and create jobs. The T4 Project will build new rail for offloading, storage, and assembly of unit trains; repurpose the 50-acre former SR 520 pontoon construction site into cargo laydown area; construct secured site access and roadway improvements; replace the T4 dock’s marine terminal fendering system; and provide Terminal 4 with new stormwater collection and treatment facilities.
“It was such an honor to have the Administrator here at the Port to show her how important this infrastructure project is not only to our port and community, but to our customer, AGP, and the thousands of farmers they represent back in the Midwest, as well as the entire nation,” said Port of Grays Harbor Commission President Tom Quigg. “The Port of Grays Harbor aspires to be a poster child for the PIDP and looks forward to continuing to work with MARAD on this transformational project.”
Founded in 1911, the Port of Grays Harbor is one of Washington State’s oldest port districts and Washington’s only deep-water port located directly on the Pacific Ocean. The Port of Grays Harbor operates 4 deep-water marine terminals, the Westport Marina, Bowerman Airport, Grays Harbor ship assist services, numerous public waterfront access facilities, in addition to industrial and business parks throughout the County. The addition of Satsop Business Park increased the Port’s properties to more than 1,000 acres of industrial properties and an additional 1,200 acres of sustainably managed forestland. Strategically located midway between Seattle and Portland and less than 1 ½ hours from open sea, the Port of Grays Harbor provides businesses a diverse portfolio of facilities. More information on the Port of Grays Harbor’s facilities and operations is available at portofgraysharbor.com or satsop.com.
