KAST News Radio
Jeff Nelson posted on October 20, 2010 01:12

Log exports at the Port of Astoria are about to begin. An update from port executive director Jack Crider on that…and related news of possible interest by South Korean investors in North Tongue Point. A first vessel from South Korean is due to berth at the port on November 5th, with a second ship to export logs to China to follow by the end of the year.

Crider says he’s been contacted by a large lumber company to ship up to 12-million board feet per month to China.

South Korean investors continue with questions about capacity, incentives, and available resources for export at industrial land at the airport. Dr. Sonny Park has agreed to draft a Korean point of contract on behalf of the port, at no cost. "People in Korea will actually be able to see a Korean phone number (on the port website) to call."

Westerlund Log Handlers vice president Roger Nance tells the port commission that five operators have been hired for the log export venture at the port. Ages range from mid-twenties to the early sixties. The economic impact to the area already has been “substantial,” according to Nance. Local longshoremen will be trained next week to load ships.