Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Washington’s stay-at-home directive varies by county, according to the updated four-phase, county-by-county “Safe Start” reopening plan. Regardless of the current phase, supply chain remains exempted and allows us to continue operating and our gateway will remain open.

No. Typically it is isolated but depends on the contact within the workforce. Most likely they are usually isolated incidents. We would not see a widespread closure due to the separation in the workforce and among terminals. We will follow guidance from the local public health department and CDC for any positive COVID-19 exposure.

It depends on the specific circumstances, but a facility shutdown would most likely last 24 hours. In this timeframe, it is unlikely a vessel would berth at another terminal. Most likely the ship would anchor and then berth once the terminal was reopened.

The NWSA and its partners developed contingency plans should port operations be disrupted. The organization impacted — whether it be a terminal operator, the longshore hall, or the NWSA — will continue to work with local health department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine what steps need to be taken to mitigate the impact and ensure the virus is not spread.

The NWSA has inherent redundancies in its structure and operations. The NWSA’s Seattle and the Tacoma harbors each have their respective longshore and maintenance workforces. There are two dispatch halls and, under recently adopted rules, the waterfront workers in one harbor are precluded from traveling to work outside their homeport. Thus, a local outbreak (e.g., at a terminal) may affect one harbor, but is unlikely to halt all operations in the gateway.

All employees are being reminded that if they have any symptoms to not come to work and to notify their medical professional.

Terminals have on-call contractors in place for a complete terminal cleaning in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak. Moreover, the NWSA is engaged with the state and federal government to obtain cleaning supplies earmarked for port operations to ensure the supply chain remains functioning.

We are not aware of this occurring at this time.

The marine terminal operators are providing masks to ILWU.

Terminals report adequate supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) and sanitizing supplies. They are currently able to fulfill near term need.

The NWSA recognizes the current situation presents challenges for customers and stakeholders across the entire supply chain. We continue to stay engaged with all parties to help facilitate solutions and are looking into possible realignment of the Gate Efficiency Program to assist. We encourage more participation in forums such as the Washington Trucking Association Trucker Outreach Forum, and for stakeholders to follow best practices suggested in these discussions.

Terminal operators are monitoring vessel volumes and setting their hours accordingly. Check the latest 14-day international gate schedules.

Generally, terminals extend free time for import containers not on demurrage and open/close dates for vessels are adjusted to allow the same number of delivery/receive days. However, the situation may vary according to terminal and ocean carrier, and we suggest you contact your provider for the most accurate information.

Our Operations Service Center team is in direct communication with all chassis providers and will continue to engage with them to work through any shortages or displacements as the volume increases. The local TPNP pool manager and other chassis providers have worked to ensure assets stay in the region and have managed volume fluctuations in the past well.

The U.S. Coast Guard is responsible for these requirements. Per 42 CFR 71.21, vessels destined for a U.S. port are required to report to the CDC any sick or deceased crew/passengers during 15 days prior to arrival at the U.S. port. Vessels with healthy crews continue to sail under normal conditions.

Equipment is balanced by the ocean carrier, not the marine terminal operator. For any equipment issues, please contact the ocean carrier directly.

All terminals report that non-essential cargo continues to move through at a normal flow.

The specific date has not been announced. Please email jrankin@nwseaportalliance.com to be added to the distribution list.

If there are critical shipments, this can be communicated with the ocean carrier and/or marine terminal operator to get expedited service. From a customs clearance standpoint if you have any types of personal protective equipment (PPE) imports, please reach out to CBP Assistant Port Director-Trade Luca Furnare to help expedite those shipments.

Crew changes are based on the vessel operator’s decision. However, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection most crew have remained on board, especially due to the local region’s stay-at-home directive. CBP is also now accepting electronic filing of vessel documents to minimize face-to-face contact. Any crew changes that do occur are expected to follow local jurisdictions guidelines for social distancing.

Our website features live truck turn times and historical terminal data. Based on industry feedback, we are working with our IT department to enhance and improve our turn time reporting capability. We hope to upgrade in the near future.

The NWSA and the Washington Trucking Association (WTA) will host a virtual trucker outreach forum, which is open to the public. The next meeting’s date is Dec. 9. Please contact Brandon Beetham at Brandon@watrucking.org.

Truck traffic is prioritized on the Spokane Street "Low Bridge" to access Terminal 5 in Seattle. Truck drivers should avoid detour routes, like West Marginal Way, to help move general traffic that is not allowed on the bridge. As updates become available, we will publish them on our website and share with our stakeholders. The most current information on the status of the West Seattle Bridge can be found on the Seattle Department of Transportation's website.

First item is to take preventative measures; stay at home if you are sick and use proper PPE including washing of hands (follow CDC guidelines). Social distancing is key so please adhere to policies of each terminal. Carry disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizers to maintain good hygiene. From an operations standpoint, it is suggested truckers make an appointment for any transaction where available and then arrive to the terminal only within the designated appointment window.

No.

Overall, cargo is flowing in the greater Puget Sound region. Transload and warehouse facilities are open and working. So far there is ample trucking capacity, and the rail network is fluid. The NWSA remains in close coordination with the state government officials to ensure the entire supply chain industry is designated as essential, allowing these critical businesses and operations to remain open. We are grateful to all the women and men who continue to come to work and keep cargo flowing in this challenging time.

There are no plans at this time to require drivers to use PPE other than their normally required high visibility vest. In case there is a requirement for additional equipment to be worn, the NWSA is compiling an inventory to help supply stakeholders.

The Washington State Department of Health requires face coverings and masks in all public spaces because they are effective in slowing the spread of COVID-19, especially when combined with 6 feet of physical distance. Learn more.

Rail operation continues to be fluid through our gateway; there are no reports of widespread delays either eastbound or westbound. The NWSA continues to engage the Class I railroads, terminal operators and ocean carriers to ensure adequate rail car supply.

Here are the links to the following information:

• Available container yard space
• Inland container yard locations
• Transload services directory

The NWSA has compiled a list of facilities that are available for storage in the gateway. The list, including contact information, is available online. Please reach out to the NWSA Business Development team if you have specific requests or need help with additional information on available locations.

No.

All ocean carriers have reinstated services to their normal frequency. We are unaware of any future capacity changes at this time.

Based on outreach conducted by the NWSA, multiple cold storage facilities in the region report open space for transload. Container availability varies by ocean carrier and there have been reports of shortages recently.

We are aware of some spot shortages, although situation depends on ocean carrier and equipment type.

Numerous void sailings throughout Q1 and Q2 created an irregular equipment flow and we know some ocean carriers are experiencing shortages of certain equipment types. We expect this to improve when consumer demand improves and imports increase. We encourage exporters to communicate with your specific ocean carrier on need and provide forecasts.

Direct port calls in China and Korea were most impacted by canceled sailings from the NWSA.

We are not aware of any facility closing specifically because of health and safety issues. Warehouse, distribution and transload facilities are considered essential and continue to operate. We are watching the situation closely and in anticipation of any closures we have a list of container yard facilities that can offer temporary storage here.

Key projects deemed essential infrastructure, such as the Terminal 5 modernization and the Husky Terminal’s Lot F gate complex, continue without major delays so far. Maintenance of essential infrastructure, such as paving and repair work, also continues. Other projects considered less critical have been put on hold. The City of Tacoma’s Taylor Way reconstruction project broke ground in July 2020.