The Port of Grays Harbor continues to move hundreds of thousands of tons of product a month through its terminals, and set a record for most volume in July at Terminal 2.
“In July 2020 we have seven ships and one barge,” Port Deputy Executive Director Leonard Barnes told the Port Commission earlier this week. “For the month, 222,609.384 metric tons went across the docks.”
For the year, 45 deep-water ships and 19 barges have called on the Port of Grays Harbor, and 1,622,070 metric tons of cargo went across the docks through the end of July.
“So far in August we’re off to a good start, continuing the strong July we had,” said Barnes.
Eight vessels are expected at the Port in August. According to the Port’s newsletter released earlier this month, seven are bound for Terminal 2, the location of AGP — Ag Processing Inc. — a farmer-owned cooperative that processes and transports grain and grain products.
“As a whole, AGP set a record in July for the most volume — 193,015 metric tons,” said Barnes. “That’s the most volume ever moved since 2002.”
AGP has been moving a lot of soy meal to overseas markets. When Port Commissioner Tom Quigg remarked about the “unusual” number of vessels he’s seen anchored waiting to enter the docks, Barnes said, “It brings back a lot of pride and great memories of the old days. It’s a reflection of the market. AGP is going strong.”
Barnes was quick to credit Port workers for their attention to detail, keeping anchored ships organized, and also for those working to keep the large number of rail cars coming into the Port with AGP product.
“Our pilot is doing a great job out there positioning the vessels safely, they’re very meticulous about that,” he said. “And in July, for AGP, we had over 2,000 rail cars. We had our team out there, and the longshoremen have been top notch. It takes a team, a real family, to get that done,” keeping rail cars moving safely and coordinating their arrival with the vessels coming to the docks and the work shifts that fill them with product.