washington business
Of Note
Redmond-based Planetary Resources Focused on Future Despite Setback
Seattle, Tacoma Ports Join Forces
The ports of Seattle and Tacoma
announced last October they would
partner to create a Seaport Alliance that
will manage their cargo terminals. This
is good news for businesses that rely on
Puget Sound ports to export goods and
products and also to receive needed
import items for their operations.
This idea is not new. In fact, lawmakers
like former Rep. Glenn Anderson have
discussed a merger of this kind for years. The ports have been competitors for decades.
But, increasing competition from other ports, most notably Canadian ports and that
of the expanded Panama Canal, is making it easier for shippers to bypass Puget Sound
ports. There is also the element of shipping consolidation among customers that helped
spawn this collaboration. The ports hope this move will retain their status as the thirdlargest container gateway in North America and continue to support thousands of jobs
while growing the economy through import and export business.
Under the terms of the proposal, management of all cargo facilities in the two ports
would be transferred to the Seaport Alliance, however ownership of individual port
assets would be retained by the respective entities.
The ports hosted a public meeting last year to adopt and submit a preliminary agreement. If a final agreement is reached, they must present a plan to the Federal Maritime
Commission in March for approval. If this partnership moves ahead successfully, it
would be a win for Washington businesses and taxpayers.
14 association of washington business
Photo: Don Wilson for the Port of Seattle
AWB member Planetary Resources has years of experience sending spacecraft into orbit and
beyond due to its work with NASA and private companies. It was set to launch the company’s first
spacecraft, dubbed Arkyd 3, last November, hitching a ride on Orbital Science’s Antares rocket to the
International Space Station. Hopes were dashed when the rocket carrying Arkyd 3 exploded upon
takeoff. Thankfully, no one was hurt in the incident.
The Arkyd 3 spacecraft was built as the first test of the company’s technology and business
model of using relatively low-cost approaches to explore space and to mine natural resources from
asteroids in the future. The mission would have space-tested the avionics and controls systems to
locate any failure in operation and tasks. Then it would have burned-up in the atmosphere and
slowly degraded after roughly 90 days.
Despite this setback, the company is forging ahead positively with the slogan, “Live to fly another
day!” In a note published on its website, the company writes, “While we are saddened about the
unfortunate consequences of this launch failure, our own development schedule, budget and plan
are practically unaffected. In fact, we are already hard at work developing our next test vehicle, the
Arkyd 6, which is planned for launch in Q3 2015.”
This is the kind of innovation and can-do spirit that is representative of Washington state companies.
Washington Resumes
Red and Golden Delicious
Apple Exports to China
Known as the “Apple Capital of the
World,” Washington is home to the
fourth-largest apple export market
worldwide. And, it’s about to gain a
larger share. After a two-year hiatus,
China announced it will reopen its
market to import Washington’s Red
and Golden Delicious apples. The news
came at a particularly good time last
fall, as Washington growers were finishing their largest-ever apple harvest.
Todd Fryhover, president of the
Washington Apple Commission, told
the Tri-City Herald that China is a
critical market because it has the fastest
growing middle class in the world.
Washington exported 785,000
cartons of apples directly to China
over the 2010 and 2011 marketing year,
which growers hope will be exceeded
with the reopening of the China
market to Washington apples.
Washington exported 40.6 million
cartons from the state’s previous
record crop picked in 2012. According
to the state, the 2012 apple crop was
valued at $2.25 billion.