The Port of Everett is bustling with jobs and economic activity, as hundreds of longshoreman, tug operators, truck drivers and loggers take the necessary steps to load 5.2 million board feet (or 1,300 truck loads) of logs for export to China. 



The log ship, which is operated by DKoram, arrived in port on March 3. The Port is partnering with Everett-based Forest Marketing Enterprises, Inc. (FORMARK) on this project. FORMARK was established 26 years ago by the late Robert L. Hagerman. 



"As a log brokerage company firmly established in this area, we were the perfect company to pull all the log suppliers together," said Eric Warren, Operations Manager for FORMARK. "There are 232 log suppliers contributing to this full vessel of logs. Whether they supplied one log or many thousands of logs each supplier contributes to the domino effect of job creation, i.e., timber owner, logging companies, truckers, employees of those companies and the families of those employees, etc."



With up-tick in log demand oversees, this export business provides good, family-wage jobs in Washington State and the Port District, said John Mohr, Executive Director for the Port of Everett. 



"We are returning to our historic roots," Mohr said. "This is our first full log ship since 2002, and we are looking forward to more log business in the future."



With the recent closure of two local sawmills, this trade keeps our loggers, truck drivers, tug operations and longshoreman employed and busy, he said.

"We are looking forward to our partnership with FORMARK and the Port of Everett," said Roger Redifer, Vice President of DKoram Inc. "Our Company specializes in log exports, and the Port of Everett offers the facilities and labor specialty to handle this commodity in a timely, safe and efficient manner. The long term outlook for demand from China is bright, but we need to be cognizant of the fact that we are competing with New Zealand and Canada to supply this market. We must stay cost competitive to be successful and that seems to be the case here in Everett as we have found to be true in our operations at Aberdeen and Port Angeles.”



The logs, which are not old growth timber, are trucked down from the mountains to Smith Island in Everett, where they are debarked by Miller Shingle. Once debarked, the logs are placed into the water and towed to the Port of Everett's Marine Terminals to be loaded waterside onto the ship by Everett's International Longshoreman Warehouse Union Locals 32, 52 and 98. 



"For most people in Local 32 logs in Everett is a new thing, but for the seasoned members of Local 32 it is a chance to look back and remember a lot of hard, but prosperous days working logs," ILWU Local 32 Business Agent Ken Hudson said. "Up until recently, logs have always been a part of the Port of Everett as long as we can remember. With all the advancements that have occurred in the logging business, it has become an important renewable commodity that has the chance to be a win, win for all. When handled properly, this resource can provide good jobs that benefit many."



By loading the logs waterside, it reserves the valuable and rare upland shipping terminal space for other commodities. To prepare for a waterside loading, the Port's Marine Terminal Maintenance staff improved the shipping facilities to include a walking ramp to the water and upgraded the walking sticks so the longshoreman could safely load the logs.