Tacoma port turns 95; Florida port appoints trade development director

The Port of Tacoma, Wash., marked its 95th anniversary on Nov. 5. On that date in 1918, Pierce County citizens' voted in favor of creating the port district on about 240 acres.

The first ship called on the port in March 1921. Since then, the facility has grown into one of the top container ports in North America, and a major gateway to Asia and Alaska, port officials said in a press release.

The port now encompasses about 2,700 acres and features nine terminals serving international and domestic shipping lines, and four rail yards served by BNSF Railway Co. and Union Pacific Railroad. Tacoma Rail provides switching and terminal rail services at the port.

The Tacoma facility has become a major center for bulk, breakbulk, project/heavy-lift cargoes and automobiles, port officials said. The value of two-way international trade handled by the facility totaled more than $46 billion in 2012.

Meanwhile, Port Manatee has promoted Matthew Appice from director of international sales to senior director of trade development and sales.

Appice joined the Palmetto, Fla., port in 2010 as international sales director. Prior to that, he was director of corporate sales and marketing for Tropical Shipping. Appice has 36 years of maritime industry experience, including 29 years with CP Ships and its predecessors, where he last served as vice president of U.S. sales.

Appice is pursuing various major marketing efforts, including the development of a roll-on/roll-off terminal for import and export vehicles in conjunction with The Pasha Group, the opening of a new 40-foot-draft berth and the exploration of opportunities associated with the future Cuban ferry market, port officials said in a press release.