Strategic Advantages

Global Gateway Positioning

Port of Vancouver USA is the most experienced, well-equipped port on the U.S. West Coast for break bulk and heavy lift. Strategically located on 1,600-plus acres along the Columbia River, our port connects the dots of global commerce from Asia, South America and Europe to all of North America. Our specialties? Dry bulk, liquid bulk, break bulk, project cargoes, autos and hundreds of acres of potential. Melding the pioneering spirit of the Pacific Northwest with state-of-the-art maritime capabilities, this is a port where businesses grow and thrive.

Excellent Transportation Connections

• River: The Port of Vancouver USA is located 106 river miles from the Pacific Ocean on the Columbia River. The Port of Vancouver currently offers 13 deep draft vessel berths that are served by numerous river and ocean-going vessels. It is closer to the U.S. Midwest and western Canadian destinations than any other West Coast port.
• Rail: The port is transited by BNSF Railway, Union Pacific Railroad, Canadian National Railroad and Canadian Pacific Railroad. The port has direct unit train access from mainline corridors.
• Road: Interstate 5, the main north/south West Coast motor freight route between Canada and Mexico, is located just two miles from the port. Equally significant, Interstate 84, a major regional east/west freight route, is just 10 miles from the port. The port is served by many local and interstate trucking lines.
• Air: Portland International Airport is located within 15 minutes of the Port of Vancouver, providing passenger and commercial freight services around the world.

Foreign Trade Zone 296

Foreign Trade Zones bring benefits that may be the competitive advantage companies need to remain in the U.S. and continue employing American workers, contributing to the domestic economy. The Foreign Trade Zone 296 service area covers all of Clark County which includes the cities of Vancouver, Camas, Washougal, Ridgefield, La Center, Battle Ground and part of Woodland.

Extensive Support Services
Pilots, security workforce, agents, linesmen, tugboat services, bunkering services and ship stores are available locally. Port of Vancouver labor is provided by ILWU Local 4 in Vancouver, Wash. The port is open to all stevedoring companies.

Diverse Cargoes
The port handles a broad range of cargoes, including wind energy, break bulk, project and direct transfer cargoes, containers, automobiles, forest products, steel and aluminum products, liquid bulks, and a number of dry bulk commodities such as bauxite, mineral ores, concentrates, fertilizers, clays, grains, and bulk agricultural commodities.

Infrastructure in Place
The port has 850 acres of developed industrial and marine property and more than 600 acres of land for future development. There is over 2 million square feet of covered marine and industrial warehousing and 250 acres of open storage and marshaling yards.

Existing Port Tenants and Customers

There are over 50 tenants with a diverse portfolio of operations and networks offering a natural supply chain advantage. As well, there are efficiencies and synergies created from port “business clusters,” offering value to potential port tenants and customers.

Proven Capabilities

Our experienced professional staff offers adjunct support to any port customer’s network and resource pool. Staff capabilities include expertise in the areas of marketing, environmental permitting, development and project delivery, communications and media relations, transportation and logistics services, and governmental and community affairs.

Alternative Funding Sources

Especially significant in today’s economy is the port’s ability to access various funding sources for project developments that need an added boost. Alternatives that exist for qualifying port projects include revenue bond financing, the New Markets Tax Credit Program, and industrial development corporation bond financing, among others. The Port of Vancouver has teamed with its partners and are together making Vancouver the best place to do business and live.