Shipper Resources

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 Service Provider 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.

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. 

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 Seattle-Tacoma International 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.

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

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

Freight forwarders can arrange the import or export of your cargo. Find local freight forwarders in our Transload Matrix and Service Provider directory. Search for “Freight Forwarder.” 

Find warehouse, distribution centers and transload facilities in the Puget Sound region in our Transload Matrix and Service Provider directory. Search for “Warehouses.” 

Find trucking companies serving our harbors in our Transload Matrix, Drayage Providers list and Service Provider 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.