b'10American Journal ofTransportation ajot.comArctic adventures Port of Portland, Oregon re-opens Lynden moves oversized modules around the world to a remotecontainer operationsAlaskan community By Stas Margaronis, AJOTBy Julie Gedeon In 2025 the Port of Portland, OregoncongestionandsupportOregon-centric Transporting oversized cargo interna- consortiumserving20federallyrecog- handled 15.53 million metric tons (mt)supply chains, the announcement said.tionally is challenging at the best of times,nizedtribesintheBeringStraitregionof cargo, a vast majority of that freightSignaling OCTs importance, Oregon but when only two windows of opportu- ofnorthwesternAlaska,andtheNorthwaseitherbulkmineralsatnearly7.5Governor Tina Kotek said: Global con-nity exist within the year to sail it into theSound Economic Development Corpora- million mt or grain at almost 3.6 millionnections like these give Oregon a compet-icy Bering Sea, the planning, coordinationtion, a private non-profit representing 15mt. The Port also is a major auto handleritive edge and help secure our economic and timing become more crucial. member communities in the region. postinga2025throughputof329,639future. They ensure that cranberries grown The Lynden group of companies roseWhen TBI Constructions owner Jasonvehicles. What the port is not, is a bigalong the coast, hay harvested in the Willa-to the occasion when asked to orchestrateBergman was contacted to become involvedhandlerofcontainers,handling86,387mette Valley, wheat from Eastern Oregon, theshipmentofeightfoodprocessingas the projects general contractor, he knewTEUs in 2025. But that may be chang- and products made in the Portland metro modularunitseachweighing16,000from his companys regular dealings withing, starting 2026. area can reach global markets efficiently, lbs.from the manufacturing site in Kau- Alaska Marine Lines, which is part of theAccordingtoaPortofPortlandcompetitively and sustainably.hajoki, Finland, to the Alaskan village ofLynden group, that Lynden had the where- announcement,onJanuary7,2026theOCT is about reliability, growth and SavoongaontheremoteSt.Lawrencewithal to handle this complex delivery.OregonContainerTerminal(OCT)waspartnership, said Tim McCarthy, presi-Island more than 3,700 miles away. I accompanied representatives fromofficially launched at the Ports Terminaldent of OCT who moderated the launch Were always up for a challenge, butKawerak and North Sound to meet with6: following a seamless transition fromceremony:Thisterminalgivesship-this project is particularly gratifying, ElodiemembersofLyndensservicepartnersthePortofPortlandtoHarborIndus- pers from Oregon and inland locations a Jollet-Gergov, the senior director of Interna- from Sweden at the manufacturing facil- trialthatsustainsacompetitiveoptionstable, efficient and competitive gateway, tional Operations for Lynden Logistics, says.ity in Finland, which really helped us tofor supply chains in Oregon, Southwestbacked by 210 acres of already developed It gave us the chance to use our logisticalunderstandhowthemoduleswouldbeWashington and Idaho. infrastructure, experienced operators and experience, highly reliable network of part- prepared and transported, Bergman says.OCT,Oregonsonlyinternationala skilled workforce with a proven record ners,andspecializedequipmenttomakeI also really appreciated Lynden beingcontainergateway,willbeoperatedbyof productivity.a real difference to the lives of people in ain constant communication with me fromHarbor Industrial Services under a long- Port of Portland Executive Director remote part of the world. theprojectslaunchuntilthemodulestermleasewiththePortofPortland:CurtisRobinholdsaid:Thistransition The establishment of the meat- andwere delivered in Savoonga for installa- OCT offers direct vessel services, dual- ensures a reliable, cost-effective connec-fish-processing facility supports the Sibe- tion by my company. railconnectivityviaBSNFandUniontion to international markets for Oregon rian Yupik communities in being self-suf- Pacific and future barge services connect- businesses. Securing a long-term operator ficient in terms of food. It also strengthenst heC haLLenge : a W indoW int iMe ingwithinlandlocations.Theterminalfor container service at Terminal 6 means theopportunitiestocommercializeandThebigchallengeinvolvedtimingwillsupportagriculture,manufacturing,exporters and importers across the state distribute some of the local reindeer meateverything, so the modules arrived fromtechnologyandretailshippers.Weeklyand region can keep moving their goods and halibut catches more widely. Europe in Nome, Alaska, well before thecontainer service has already begun. efficiently,competitively,andcloserto We also took great pride in doing afirst of two sailing windows in summerThelaunchfeaturedthedebutofhome while supporting thousands of fam-good job on this project because we knewwhentheiceintheBeringSeamakesHarborIndustrialsShipOregoninitia- ily-wagejobsandourstateseconomy. the risks were particularly significant for allwater transportation feasible to the northtive aimed at encouraging businesses toWeregratefultoGovernorKotekand of the stakeholders, Jollet-Gergov adds. side of St. Lawrence Island. movetheircargothroughOregonportsstate legislators for their efforts to sustain ThemoduleswereresearchedandLynden submitted its original proposalasawaytoreduceoveralltransporta- containeroperationsandinvestinOre-orderedbyKawerakInc.,anon-profit(ADVENTUREScontinued on page 20) tion costs, reduce roadway emissions andgons future.Shipping to Alaska or Hawaii? Weve got you covered!At Lynden, we understand that plans change but deadlines dont. Thats why we proudly offer our exclusive Dynamic Routing system. Designed to work around your unique requirements, Dynamic Routing allows you to choose the mode of transportationair, land, or seato control the speed of your deliveries so they arrive just as they are needed. With Lynden you only pay for the speed you need.For more information, call us at 1-888-596-3361or visit our website at lynden.com'