Gary Nelson, Executive Director, told AJOT the highest priority project for the port right now is the deepening of the federal navigation channel that serves the port. “The project was originally approved in 1979, partially constructed in 1989/1990 and we’re finally getting around to finishing it now. It will make us a minus 42 – 43 (foot draft) essentially equivalent to the Columbia River, which has been our goal,” he said. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2017 and will allow Panamax vessels to load larger cargoes. Nelson said another key project is two properties that are available, have rail access and are contingent to existing port terminals and the port is looking for expansion opportunities for the land. While Nelson said it’s not likely that the properties, one of which is a former pulp mill site, will be leased out for a crude oil terminal or log handling facility, automobiles could be a possibility. “It could be an extension of our port rail system to add additional storage for grain products and also automobiles,” he said. Last year the port reportedly had a record year in dry bulk handled by AGP and vehicles handled by Pasha Automotive Services that totaled 118,014 cars, which was a record. As well the port handled 115 ships, and 18 barges that moved 2,311,875 tonnes of export cargo and 74,731 tonnes of import for a total of 2,386,605 tonnes of cargo. At present there are three proposed crude oil transfer projects under review for the port and Nelson said the executive is hoping a decision will be made soon as to how to proceed, if at all, with the crude oil facilities at Terminals 1 & 2.