Bigger ships threaten Portland’s container export prospects

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Portland captures in microcosm the impact of increasingly large containerships on ports throughout the world. In this piece from Capital Press, experts argue that bigger ships have threatened the survival of the city’s port, with its smaller cranes incapable of loading the larger vessels. The port’s container traffic came to a halt last year after several carriers removed it from their schedules, citing slow operations, rendering the market unprofitable.

“In many ways, this is where the market is headed and what we have to contend with in Portland,” said Randy Fischer, senior analyst at the port. “It’s bigger ships coming in and smaller ships getting pulled out.”