The Northwest Seaport Alliance was contacted Wednesday, March 25, after an employee of Wallenius Wilhelmsen Industrial Tacoma (WWIT) heavy-equipment processing center tested positive for COVID-19. The employee was last at work on March 20 and has since been in self-quarantine.

WWIT is in contact with the Washington state and the Tacoma-Pierce County health departments. With an abundance of caution, WWIT closed its heavy-equipment processing center on March 25 for cleaning and is implementing its business continuity plan, which is based on plans and guidelines provided by local public health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The WWIT facility serves as an off-dock staging location for breakbulk cargo exported and imported through NWSA facilities. We understand, however, the employee works in an area of WWIT’s facility that has no direct involvement or contact with the NWSA’s operations, nor do we believe he had direct contact with any import or export cargo moving through our gateway.

The NWSA remains in close coordination with WWIT, and we understand they have been practicing social distancing measures in its operations.

The property normally has about 20 employees on its 19-acre site, located at 3701 Taylor Way in Tacoma. WWIT will resume normal operations on Monday, March 30.

The NWSA is committed to the health, safety, and well-being of the public and our workforce.

All NWSA terminals in Seattle and Tacoma remain open and operational.