Frequently Asked Questions

The NWSA leases container terminals to private terminal operators. Find the status of your container on the terminal operator's website (login information is usually required), or contact the terminal operator or shipping line directly. You will need the container number or bill of lading. Find contact information and website links for our container terminals and links to the ocean carrier websites.

If you know the shipping line you will be using, contact the ocean carrier directly. If you don’t know the carrier, contact a third-party logistics for more information. Find local freight forwarders in our Facility Finder directory. Search for “Freight Forwarder.”

The NWSA does not sell or lease freight containers. For more information, contact a freight container sales and leasing company.  

Contact the individual ocean carriers for more information. Find a list of the shipping lines serving NWSA facilities on our ocean carriers page.

The NWSA operates the East Blair One and Terminal 7 breakbulk facilities. To request a quote to move your breakbulk, project or heavy-lift cargo, use our Breakbulk Quote form.

For questions about breakbulk, project or heavy-lift cargo, contact NWSA customer service:

• Lead Freight Coordinator – 253-383-9424
• Export – breakbulk: 253-428-8694 / 253-383-9429
• Import – breakbulk: 253-383-9424 / 253-9429

Breakbulk and auto questions can also be directed to the shipping line transporting your cargo:

• EUKOR (Wilhelmsen Ship Service): 206-652-4411
• Hyundai-GLOVIS (Wilhelmsen Ship Service): 206-652-4411
• “K” Line – Auto Carrier (“K” Line America): 206-421-4750
• MOL – Auto Carrier (Norton Lilly): 206-622-6250
• NYK Line – Auto Carrier (Inchcape Shipping): 206-527-7451
• Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (Norton Lilly): 206-622-6250
• World Logistics Service/WLS (Norton Lilly): 206-622-6250

If the cargo is driveable or trailerable:

• $8.50/MT

If the cargo is not drivable or trailerable, then the following fees would apply to non-rolling (static) cargo based on weight:

• 1-25MT: $17.00/MT
• 25-55MT: $26.55/MT
• More than 55MT: To lift anything over 55MT, the port will need to order an outside crane. Contact Dennis Turney for details.

Please note: With all static cargo, an outside crane may be necessary due to the cargo's dimensions, center of gravity or other factors. Contact Dennis Turney for details.

To coordinate the pickup of your personally owned vehicle, contact our breakbulk customer service staff at 253-383-9429 or 253-383-9430. 

For an overview of importing and exporting, and links to resources, see our First-time Shipper Guide.

We have direct services to Asia, Europe, South America and Oceania. View our vessel rotation schedule for a complete list of services. View the ocean carriers page for additional information. 

Find estimated vessel arrivals and departures in our Vessel Schedule. 

Our vessel schedule includes the container, bulk and breakbulk vessels scheduled at to call at our facilities. We do not track fishing vessels, cruise ships or the boats that dock at our marinas. The report is updated as new information is received. Actual vessel arrival dates and times may vary.

For assistance shipping your cargo domestically by rail, contact an Intermodal Marketing Company (IMC). IMCs provide domestic cargo booking services with the railroads, and will coordinate the rail rate with a truck rate at origin and destination. Local IMCs may also coordinate transloading to and from international containers, and most companies also offer truck brokerage services.

Learn more about shipping your cargo by air through Sea-Tac Airport on the Port of Seattle’s website.

Find links to the Seattle and Tacoma harbor's tariff documents for the rates, charges, rules and regulations for services performed by participating terminals. 

If you are looking for the foreign trade zone tariffs, find FTZ Tariff No. 9 for FTZ No. 5 on the Port of Seattle’s website and the FTZ Zone Schedule for FTZ No. 86 on the Port of Tacoma’s website.

You will need to coordinate the shipment with a company that specializes in shipping personal and military personnel vehicles. This listing of privately-owned vehicle shipping companies is provided for information purposes only.

For assistance shipping your personal belongings and household goods, we recommend contacting the following providers for more information. 

Ship to Alaska

Contact the following providers for more information about shipping to Alaska: 

• Alaska Marine Lines
• Matson
• Northland Services
• Totem Maritime Alaska 

Ship to Hawaii

Contact the following providers for more information about shipping to Hawaii:

• Aloha Marine Lines
• Matson
• Honolulu Freight Service

Ship to international or domestic destinations

Contact the following providers for more information about shipping to domestic or international destinations. If you are shipping internationally, you will be required to complete the U.S. Customs paperwork.

• Air Van Lines Movers
• American Red Ball International – 800-669-6424
• Continental Van Lines
• Rainier Overseas Movers
• Ocean Terminals, Inc.
• Stevens International

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection at (206) 553-1581 or www.cbp.gov
• U.S.D.A. at (206) 553-4460 or www.usda.gov

Contact Customs at 206-553-1581 or www.cbp.gov. 

North Harbor (Seattle)

• Terminal 18: X117
• Terminal 30: Y197
• Terminal 46: X127

South Harbor (Tacoma)

• APM Terminals: X335
• Husky Terminal: Z693
• Olympic Container Terminal: Y316
• Pierce County Terminal: X215
• Totem Ocean Trailer Express: X339
• Washington United Terminals: Z705

Find the required information for truck drivers picking up or dropping off cargo in the Trucker Onboard List. 

Each month we post cargo reports. View current and past cargo reports.

The value of international two-way trade totaled $75.2 billion in 2016, according to the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research.  Of that total, imports accounted for $58.6 billion and exports $16.6 billion. 

Based on the value of two-way trade in 2016, the NWSA’s top trading partners are:

1. China/Hong Kong - $32.5 billion
2. Japan - $17.4 billion
3. Republic of Korea - $6 billion
4. Taiwan - $3.9 billion
5. Vietnam - $2.3 billion
6. Thailand - $1.3 billion
7. Australia - $1 billion
8. Malaysia - $1 billion
9. Singapore - $784.5 million
10. India - $781.9 million

The Puget Sound’s annual trade with Alaska is estimated at $5.4 billion, according to the 2015 Ties That Bind study. If ranked with our international trading partners, Alaska would be fourth. 

Imports

The value of international imports totaled $58.6 billion in 2016, according to the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research.

Our top 10 import commodities by value in 2016 were:

1. Industrial machinery and computers - $10.4 billion
2. Electrical machinery and electronics - $9.4 billion
3. Vehicles and parts - $7.3 billion
4. Furniture - $3.1 billion
5. Toys, games and sports equipment - $2.7 billion
6. Footwear - $2.1 billion
7. Articles of iron or steel - $1.9 billion
8. Knit or crocheted apparel - $1.9 billion
9. Plastics and plastic articles - $1.9 billion
10. Aircraft, spacecraft and parts - $1.7 billion

Exports

The value of international exports totaled $16.6 billion in 2016, according to the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research.

Our top 10 export commodities by value in 2016 were:

1. Oil seeds and grains - $3 billion
2. Industrial machinery and computers - $1.5 billion
3. Prepared vegetables, fruits and nuts - $1 billion
4. Cereals - $820 million
5. Meat and meat products - $755.7 million
6. Fish and seafood - $637.9 million
7. Paper and paperboard - $628.2 million
8. Edible fruits and nuts - $615.2 million
9. Vegetables, roots and tubers - $601.9 million
10. Inorganic chemicals and rare-earth metals - $571.1 million

Submit a public records request for the information.

The NWSA has offices in Seattle and Tacoma. 

• North Harbor (Seattle): Find step directions to the Port of Seattle headquarters at Pier 69, 2711 Alaskan Way in Seattle or get driving directions.
• South Harbor (Tacoma): Find directions to the Port of Tacoma headquarters at 1 Sitcum Plaza in Tacoma or get driving directions.

Find addresses for NWSA terminals on the Terminal Facilities map. 

Submit a request through our contact form, and we will put you in touch with the right staff member.

Find employment opportunities with The Northwest Seaport Alliance on our employment page.

Longshore jobs are through the Pacific Maritime Association. Find more information on PMA’s website at www.pmanet.org. 

Opportunities for qualified contractors and vendors to do work for The Northwest Seaport Alliance are advertised on the Port of Tacoma and Port of Seattle websites. Find links to current opportunities.

A Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) is required for entry to restricted areas of the alliance.

If you don't have a TWIC and need to access to restricted facilities operated by the NWSA at the South Harbor, you can make arrangements (including cost) with one of our approved for-hire escorts.

Leased NWSA terminals have their own access guidelines, and you will need to contact them for more information. Find contact information for our leased terminals.

NWSA records are available to the public by request, subject only to the exceptions contained in the Washington State Public Records Act. Learn how to submit a records request. 

The NWSA handles a variety of cargoes:

• Containerized
• Breakbulk (items too large or bulky to fit in a container), including project and heavy-lift cargoes, as well as roll-on/roll-off (Ro/Ro)
• Autos
• Dry bulk (grain)
• Liquid bulk (molasses and petroleum)

The NWSA includes Foreign Trade Zone No. 9 in Seattle and No. 86 in Tacoma. Find the FTZ Tariffs or Zone Schedules on the homeport websites:

• Port of Seattle’s FTZ Tariff No. 9
• Port of Tacoma’s FTZ Zone Schedule No. 86

Customs house brokers assist shippers in meeting federal requirements governing imports and exports. Find local customs house brokers in our Facility Finder directory. Search for “Customs House Broker.”

Freight forwarders can arrange the import or export of your cargo. Find local freight forwarders in our Facilities Finder directory. Search for “Freight Forwarder.” 

Find warehouse, distribution centers and transload facilities in the Puget Sound region in our Facilities Finder directory. Search for “Warehouses.” 

Find trucking companies serving our harbors in the drayage providers directory. This list is not an endorsement of the firms listed.

More than 20 international shipping lines, as well as representing all of the major carrier alliances, offer weekly vessel service at NWSA terminals. We also have several domestic shipping lines serving Alaska and Hawaii, and breabulk and Ro/Ro carriers offering regular service. See all ocean carriers, services and ports of call, and the rotation schedule.