The Grand Alliance announced earlier this year that its three members, as well as ZIM, will begin calling Washington United Terminals at the end of June.
Hamburg Sud and Hapag-Lloyd will begin calling that same terminal in early August, bringing an estimated 32,000 container units a year through Tacoma. The two shipping lines jointly operate the Mediterranean Pacific Service from the Mediterranean to the Pacific Northwest.
The weekly service consists of eight Hapag-Lloyd and two Hamburg Sud vessels. The service originates in Livorno, Italy and serves Asia and the west coasts of Central and South America.
Cargo from Italy, France and Spain will include wine, spirits, branded mineral waters, such agricultural products as olives and olive oil, as well as marble, flooring and tiles. Exports from the Pacific Northwest will include seafood from Alaska and apples from Washington state.
Washington United Terminals is a 105-acre container terminal on the Blair Waterway. The marine terminal features four post-Panamax and two super-post-Panamax cranes, capable of handling the largest ships in the world, on-dock rail and a newly extended berth measuring 2,600 feet.