TERMINAL 5 in the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) gateway handled its largest vessel after the 15,000-TEU Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Virgo called at its facilities, reports London's Port Technology International.

The ship docked at the container terminal on February 18 and followed the 13,000-TEU MSC Margrit that berthed the week before.

Terminal 5 has recently been modernised to handle the largest ships in Transpacific trade with its recently configured dock and deep-water berth.

"The NWSA is proud to welcome a series of ultra-large container vessels to Terminal 5. These ships utilise Terminal 5's on-dock rail system which moves containers more efficiently from the terminal to the final destination," said the NWSA.

"Terminal 5 is increasing access to good for businesses, expanding job opportunities across the Puget Sound, and supporting export opportunities for Washington state and Midwest agriculture producers."

In January 2022, the NWSA saw its container volumes drop 5.8 per cent compared to the same period in 2021.

During the month, 272,281 TEU passed through the Ports of Tacoma and Seattle, with full imports declining 0.9 per cent and full exports