"The landmark 1988 land claims settlement with the Puyallup Tribe continues to bear fruit – and it produced a watermelon of a deal Monday.
The newly announced agreement between the tribe and SSA Marine promises to result in a 180-acre shipping terminal – the Port of Tacoma’s largest – on the Blair Waterway.
Seattle-based SSA Marine is well-suited for the $300 million project: It is the nation’s largest terminal operator, and it has vast experience in the shipping industry. The company would design, build and operate the terminal.
This deal would have several obvious benefits.
It would greatly expand the South Sound’s shipping capacity, making Tacoma even more of a center of maritime commerce. And as tribal chairman Herman Dillon noted, it would create thousands of high-paying jobs in the bargain.
The large new terminal – to be built on tribal land – also promises to diversify the Puyallups’ economy, which is now precariously dependent on casino gambling, a cyclical industry."
Get the Story:
Editorial: The Puyallup Tribe goes maritime, big time
(The Tacoma News Tribune 5/2)
Another Story:
Tribe plans Tacoma container terminal (The Seattle Times 5/2)
Relevant Links:
Puyallup Tribal News -
http://www.puyalluptribalnews.com
Related Stories
Puyallup Tribe to develop shipping terminal at
port (5/1)
