Hanjin Shipping Leaving Port of Portland

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Joanna Evoniuk, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Hanjin Shipping Company will be leaving the Port of Portland by March, according to the Port officials. The South Korea-based shipping company accounts for the majority of Portland’s container business, over 70 percent.

“Hanjin has been a vitally important and longtime carrier in our market, and this will be a tough loss for our region,” Bill Wyatt, executive director for the Port of Portland, said in a media statement. “We have made every attempt to prevent this outcome.”

Since 2012, disputes with longshoreman at the terminal ports have caused delays and lowered productivity at the port. ILWU workers at the port’s only terminal dock have participated in work slowdowns and stoppages, unhappy with the port operations manager, ICTSI. The two are currently in the middle of labor negations with the Pacific Maritime Association since this summer.

Hanjin Shipping will offcialy stopping business with the Port of Portland by March 9, according to Josh Thomas, spokesperson for the port. They will still provide services to Portland, by rail and train transportation from Seattle.

Hanjin Shipping's business with the Portland accounted for an estimated 657 direct jobs and $33 million in wages annually.

The shipping company threatened to end business with the port before in 2013, but stayed on after the Port of Portland invested $4 million as incentive for more containers to come through the port.