The 70-ton ramp supports cargo operations by aiding in the loading and unloading of wheeled cargo, such as military tanks, farming and mining equipment, onto and from rail cars. Certified welders on the Port’s Marine Terminals maintenance crew constructed the ramp to meet U.S. Military design specifications.
“Installing a rail loading ramp at our terminal facilities greatly enhances our intermodal capabilities,” said Carl Wollebek, Chief Operating Officer for the Port of Everett. “The ramp enables us to more efficiently and effectively move wheeled cargo by significantly decreasing the time it takes to make the transition on and off rail cars.”
The Port of Everett’s facilities handle a wide variety of roll-on roll-off cargo, also known as RoRo cargo. This cargo mix includes heavy machinery for the construction and mining industry, such as excavators and bulldozers, as well as heavy equipment for the farming industry, such as tractors.
By using the ramp, the Port can better serve its current customers and attract new business. The ramp allows crews to drive machinery on and off rail cars, in turn saving time and money, increasing capacity and providing a safer alternative to lifting with a crane or other cargo handling equipment.
“Whenever we are able to drive machinery as opposed to lifting it, both the Port and our customers benefit,” Wollebek said. “Lift off tends to be more costly and time consuming, using more equipment to move each piece. Driving the cargo directly onto rail speeds up the process considerably, while ensuring a safe transfer.”
Port staff realized the importance of having a ramp in 2007, when the U.S. Army utilized the Port’s facilities to transport tanks and associated rolling stock by rail. It was required that the equipment be driven on and off the rail cars; however, at the time Port didn’t have the appropriate equipment so a ramp was trucked to the Port in order to complete the job.
The Port has notified the Army about its new addition, and its terminal facilities are now prepared if, and when, the military needs to access the Port of Everett shipping facilities. The Port of Everett is the homeport of Naval Station Everett, and serves a critical role in supporting military operations throughout the region.
