Contrary to early concerns about exporting logs next to cruise ships, the Port of Astoria has learned that cruise ship passengers find the log handling operations to be an interesting sight. Photo by Jeff Smith, President of ILWU Local 8.
Reintroducing log exports has paid off big for the Port of Astoria, and more is on the way as the Port District looks to TIGER grant funding to make improvements to Pier 3 to allow for expansion of the business.
Port Executive Director Jack Crider says the Port when through many meetings with the tenants including public hearings on the proposal that was eventually hammered out with Westerlund Log Handlers on a short term basis. Crider says the Port had much to prove. Today, Crider claims the tenants are happy, and the forest owners whose prices have significantly increased are happy to say nothing of the people who found employment with the new operation. The cruise ship customers provided a real surprise when they said that they were pleased to be pulling into a working Port which their passengers find very interesting.