The eruption of Mount St. Helens became the defining moment of the 1980s. At the Port of Longview one cargo handling record after another was set, all based on strong log exports. As the decade closed the mix of cargos crossing Port docks continued to diversify.
1980
A 30-ton Krupp container crane was installed at Berth 7 and a container storage area was established.
International Raw Materials began operating the bulk facility at Berth 2.
Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980.
1981
The first sugar beet pellets moved across the Port's docks for export to Japan.
The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) of the Port of Longview, Washington was created. Its purpose was to provide a public corporation through which tax-exempt non-recourse revenue bonds could be issued to finance industrial development facilities within the Port District boundaries. The Port's IDC was the first created in the State of Washington. It continues today.
1982
The Cowlitz Economic Development Council was formed.
1983
Arco Products Company rebuilt the former alumina unloading facility at Berth 5 as a new export terminal for calcined petroleum coke.
1986
Two concrete silos were constructed at Berth 5, giving Arco 40,000 tons of calcium petroleum coke storage capacity. Annual export volume doubled to almost one-half million tons.
Soda ash shipments through the Port exceeded 800,000 tons annually, making the Port the major outlet for soda ash on the Pacific Coast.
1988
Ken O'Hollaren became the executive director of the Port in January.
The Port's performance earned the "E" Award for Exporting from President Ronald Reagan. Port Commissioners traveled to Washington, D.C. to receive the award.
Coal tar pitch ranked as the Port's largest and most consistent import.
1989
The Port began its single largest facility development project in more than 20 years, a $5.2 million project to make Berth 2 an environmentally sound facility for handling a wide range of dry-bulk export cargos.
The Port began to develop a strategic plan for a major new industrial park on the Columbia River.
The grain elevator leased by Continential Grain was shut-down.
Circa 1980s
The Longview-Rainier Bridge was renamed the Lewis and Clark Bridge.
By the end of the 1980s, Japan, China and Australia had become the Port's main international trading partners. The mix of cargos crossing Port docks continued to diversify and included coal-tar pitch, chemical fertilizers, zircon sand, talc and animal feed.
International Paper Company began demolishing the old Long-Bell Company lumber sheds.
> Next
< Back |
