As Construction Heats Up, Cement Again Flowing Into Dome on Everett’s Waterfront

September 4, 2014

Everett Economy, Everett Jobs

Everett dome

An increase in construction means cement is again being stored in the dome.

We often get asked about what’s in the dome on the Everett waterfront and in 2011 we did a short piece about the dome on the Everett waterfront that originally housed aluminum and was converted to store cement. Since 2009 however, the dome has been pretty empty. According to the Port of Everett, an increase in construction activity around the northwest has led to the use of the dome again and as work heats up on Pier 3, it’s good news for Everett’s economy. Here’s the update from the Port…

In August, the first cement ship since 2009 docked at Pier 3 at the Port of Everett Seaport.

The ship, carrying 32,000 tons of cement, took eight days to unload, and will be used to support construction efforts in the region. The bulk commodity was offloaded at the seaport with a vacuum and conveyor belt system. The cement is stored in a large dome that can accommodate approximately 60,000 tons of cement.

The cement is transported by Lehigh Hansen, a subsidiary of Heidelberg Cement. The company signed a 20-year lease with the Port of Everett in 2006, but only after a few shipments, the Great Recession severely limited the demand for cement in the region.

“The return of the cement shipments is a sign that we are finally on the upswing after such a long period of economic downturn,” Executive Director John Mohr said. “While the construction activity in the region hasn’t reached pre-recession levels, we are encouraged by the return of the shipments.”

The return of the cement shipments means jobs. Cement operations at the Port generate an estimated 35 jobs, many of which include members of the local Longshoremen’s Union who off-load the ships. Further, the operation generates approximately 100 additional jobs by way of truck drivers, rail operators, tug operators and ship’s crew.

The Port of Everett facility offers a prime location to supply product to Lehigh’s Pacific Northwest customers, supporting four of its distribution centers in Washington State – Bellingham, Seattle, Spokane and Pasco. In 2006, the Port Commission approved the lease with Lehigh to retrofit and use the bulk storage dome for cement. The lease resulted in more than $20 million in facility investments to add a truck loading facility, and to minimize noise and dust during unloading. The dome was previously used to store alumina ore.

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