American port developer Ports America has announced it will increase its West Coast presence through additional investments, services and expansion of its terminal capacity. In a recent press release, the company said the new contract includes a significant expansion and 20-year lease extension of the Husky Terminal in Tacoma, Washington, United States. Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city in Pierce County.

International Transportation Service, Inc. (ITS), a joint venture between Ports America and "K" Line, negotiated an extension of its Husky lease with the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), an agency managing the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, through 2046.

Ports America is an equity holder and service provider to Husky Terminal. Included in the lease extension is a planned expansion project of more than US$141 million approved by the NWSA, which will greatly enhance the terminal’s capacity.

Husky Terminal’s extensive enhancements will provide the terminal with approximately 104 acres of leased and preferential berthing area in this major gate port in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Additionally, NWSA has agreed to order four of the largest, most modern gantry cranes and to complete yard and gate improvements. Upon completion, the newly-designed Husky Terminal will be capable of simultaneously accommodating two 18,000-TEU mega-container vessels.

Ports America is a 30-percent owner of ITS, with the remaining interest owned by “K” Line. ITS has been operating container terminals for 40 years in the ports of Long Beach (Calif.) and Tacoma, providing services to major shipping lines including "K" Line.