Port of Vancouver, USA welcomed the M/V Laser Ace, captained by Kyi Tun from Myanmar, also known as Burma, on her maiden voyage to Vancouver, Washington, on February 7, 2007. The M/V Laser Ace is chartered by NYK Global Bulk Corporation and represented locally by International Shipping Co., Inc.
Randy Click, General Manager for International Shipping; Marco Ullmer, Regional Sales and Marketing Manager for Kinder Morgan; Chris Alexander, Terminal Manager for Kinder Morgan Bulk Terminals, and Carl Loehr, Marine Terminals Superintendent for Port of Vancouver, welcomed Capt. Tun and his 21-member crew to Vancouver.
Built in Imabari, Japan, the M/V Laser Ace sailed on its maiden voyage from Japan on January 20, 2007. The M/V Laser Ace is 169.2 meters in length and holds 28,416 deadweight tons.
On its first visit to the Columbia River, the M/V Laser Ace loaded potash at Port of Portland before arriving at Port of Vancouver's Terminal 2 to load 16,094 metric tons of clay. After leaving the Port of Vancouver, the vessel stopped at Port of Longview before returning to Japan. Kinder Morgan serves as the bulk terminal operator for all three Columbia River ports.
Exports through the Port of Vancouver's mineral bulk terminal, managed by Kinder Morgan, have increased more than 150%, from 200,000 to 500,000 metric tons over the past two years. In 2006, the Port completed construction of a new 72,000 sq. ft. storage facility to continue accommodating projected demand for bentonite clay and copper concentrate exports.
