Presenting the state of the port address, Port Executive Director Larry Paulson focused on the port’s role as caretaker of the public’s interest in industrial development and maritime trade, and emphasized that investment in transportation infrastructure, such as the port’s West Vancouver Freight Access rail project, is necessary, even in difficult economic times.
“The port’s current investments have not only helped us during the recession with some of our most successful years in terms of cargo, but we have also positioned the port to grow,” said Paulson. “This growth has already begun, and will be exponential in the coming years.”
Included in Paulson’s remarks was an overview of the port’s 2011 performance in terms of cargo movement, which held steady at 5.6 million metric tons, down only slightly (1.8 percent) from 2010. Cargos such as wind energy, pulp, scrap metal and project cargo saw growth in 2011, while other cargos, including automobiles, wheat and bulk minerals, dipped.
On the port’s industrial side, Paulson called attention to the addition of two new businesses: Sapa Profiles and Puget Sound Pipe & Supply. Paulson said the port ended 2011 with a 94 percent occupancy rate.
Closing the program was the annual presentation of awards to tenants and customers for their contributions to the port and the community. This year’s award winners included Natural Recovery, winner of the Environmental Stewardship Award; United Grain Corporation, winner of the Facilities Improvement Award; Sapa Profiles, winner of the Tenant of the Year Award; and Siemens Energy Inc., winner of the Marine Customer of the Year Award.