By sea, by rail: port talks automobile cargo traffic

The Port of Grays Harbor has seen thousands of autos go through it recently

Though the slab-sided car carriers moored alongside the piers at the Port of Grays Harbor have all the grace and elegance of design of a cinder block, they bring something more important to the county besides aesthetics: commerce.

With half a dozen of the vessels making port here since September, the port’s longshoremen have been keeping busy rolling the cars off and on to their next destinations, said the port’s new Executive Director Leonard Barnes.

Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World Rows of cars sit unloaded from the vast roll-on/roll-off car carrier at the Port of Grays Harbor.

“We have handled a lot of autos in the past; like much international cargoes, it goes in cycles, based on a lot of factors — goes up and down as the market dictates,” Barnes said in an email.

Rows of cars stand ready for further transport at the Port of Grays Harbor. (Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World)

General Motors is currently the prime user of the port as a venue to offload its products from the roll-on/roll-off (RORO) carriers bringing the cars from overseas factories, Barnes said. County residents might have seen the auto transporter cars with their metal siding, different from the grain or bulk liquid transport cars commonly seen, as they move the cars east toward the major rail lines.

A locomotive sits in anticipation of taking the train of auto transporter cars out of the county once loaded. (Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World)

“We talk about a number of factors including space, logistics etc. Autos go out via of truck, rail or ship,” Barnes said. “We have had six RORO vessels arrive since September, with a total of 13,000 autos handled.”

Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World Cars drive off the Morning Coronet, a car carrier offloading its cargo at the Port of Grays Harbor.

Dozens of longshoremen work in relays to offload the carriers and line the cars in neat rows and columns in readiness for sending them on to their next destination. That part doesn’t require any particular special skills, Barnes said — just that they’re an ILWU employee who’s able to drive an auto. There’s about 55-60 longshoremen per shift for loading operations, Barnes said.

“(It’s) just exciting to see the RORO vessels come in and all the jobs and economics it brings to our community,” Barnes said.

Contact Senior Reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@thedailyworld.com.