HMM Shipping Line Plans Modernization Project at Tacoma’s Washington United Terminals
Jul 30, 2026, 3:12 PM
South Sound Business
Originally published on South Sound Business.
HMM Shipping Line is strengthening its long-term commitment to the Tacoma Harbor through a major investment in Washington United Terminals that will increase the terminal’s cargo capacity by nearly 50% and position The Northwest Seaport Alliance gateway to serve larger container vessels well into the future, according to a news release today from the NWSA.
The project will increase annual cargo-handling capacity at Washington United Terminals, or WUT, located at 1815 Port of Tacoma Road, from approximately 590,000 TEUs to 880,000 TEUs, while improving operational efficiency across the terminal. One TEU, or 20-foot equivalent unit, equates to a standard 20-foot-long container measuring roughly 8 feet wide and 8.5 feet tall.
WUT is a subsidiary of HMM. In a separate release this week, HMM said it signed a contract with HD Hyundai Samho to supply four new port cranes. WUT currently operates eight quay cranes and six yard cranes, and said its modernization project will replace two aging quay cranes with new units and add two yard cranes.
HD Hyundai Samho will supply the equipment on a turnkey basis, covering design, manufacturing, transportation, installation, and commissioning, with delivery scheduled for completion by 2028, HMM said. The project cost was not released.
WUT opened at the port in 1999 and spans approximately 126 acres, with a 2,602-foot berth. The terminal includes an on-dock rail system that can accommodate 26 rail cars simultaneously, providing inland logistics connectivity for HMM’s U.S. West Coast shipping routes, HMM said.
NWSA said the investment represents a significant vote of confidence in the Seattle-Tacoma gateway and reinforces HMM’s commitment to anchoring cargo in the Tacoma Harbor as international trade and vessel sizes continue to grow. By modernizing terminal infrastructure today, HMM and Washington United Terminals are helping ensure the gateway remains competitive, efficient, and prepared for the next generation of global shipping, NWSA said in its release.
“As ports across North America compete for cargo and vessel calls, investments like this demonstrate confidence in the Seattle-Tacoma gateway,” Dick Marzano, NWSA co-chair and Port of Tacoma Commission president, said in the release. “HMM’s commitment to Washington United Terminals strengthens Tacoma Harbor’s role in global trade while creating the infrastructure needed to support future growth, larger vessels, and reliable service for our customers.”
The modernization project includes new cargo-handling equipment that will allow the terminal to accommodate larger container ships, improve cargo flow, and increase overall terminal productivity, NWSA added. The enhancements include the replacement of two aging ship-to-shore cranes and the addition of two rubber-tired gantry cranes as part of a broader modernization effort underway at the terminal.
Zachary Thomas, chief operations officer and vice president of Washington United Terminals, said in NWSA’s release that’s WUT’s customers depend on reliable, efficient connections to global markets.
“These terminal improvements will enhance cargo flow, strengthen supply-chain performance, and ensure Washington United Terminals remains well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of international trade long into the future,” Thomas said.
Washington United Terminals is a critical gateway for trans-Pacific trade and an important hub within HMM’s North American network. The investment underscores HMM’s confidence in the Pacific Northwest market and highlights the value of continued collaboration between ocean carriers, terminal operators, and port partners to strengthen supply chain connectivity and regional economic growth, NWSA said.
