WUT's Modernization Drive
Washington United Terminals Secures Four Cranes from HD Hyundai Samho for Modernization
Anonymous
Key Points
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Washington United Terminals sits on a 510,000-square-meter site with a 793-meter berth and an on-dock rail system capable of handling 26 railcars, highlighting strong inland connectivity supporting HMM's West Coast operations.
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HD Hyundai Samho has previously supplied four quay cranes to WUT (in 1999); the new contract will replace two aging quay cranes and add two yard cranes as part of the modernization.
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The deal is tied to MASGA, the Korea-U.S. port-equipment cooperation project, with HD Hyundai Samho framing the Tacoma crane award as a significant MASGA achievement.
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HD Hyundai Samho has supplied a total of 20 port cranes to U.S. ports since entering the market in 1985, underscoring its growing footprint in the American container-crane sector.
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HMM’s broader expansion strategy includes a memorandum of understanding with India’s Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority for the Vadhvan Port project and ongoing Terminal TTIA development at Algeciras, Spain, illustrating diversified, cross-border port infrastructure investments.
Washington United Terminals (WUT) at the Port of Tacoma has awarded HD Hyundai Samho a turnkey contract to supply four container cranes, according to Korea Herald and SE Daily. The deal covers two new ship-to-shore cranes and two yard cranes, with delivery scheduled by 2028.
The upgrade will push WUT's annual capacity from 590,000 TEU to 880,000 TEU — a nearly 50% increase. It also enables the terminal to handle larger container ships, as part of HMM's broader push to modernize its West Coast operations, Splash247 reported.
HD Hyundai Samho's Long History at Tacoma
This is not HD Hyundai Samho's first crane deal at WUT. The South Korean manufacturer supplied four quay cranes to the same terminal back in 1999, according to SE Daily. The new contract replaces two of those aging quay cranes and adds two yard cranes to expand the facility's footprint.
Since entering the U.S. market in 1985, HD Hyundai Samho has now supplied a total of 20 port cranes to American ports, Korea Herald reported. The company will handle the full project — manufacturing, transport, installation, and commissioning — using high-quality POSCO steel.
MASGA Ties Korea and U.S. Port Equipment Sectors
HD Hyundai Samho framed the Tacoma award as a major win under MASGA — the Korea-U.S. port-equipment cooperation project. MASGA is a government-backed initiative designed to deepen ties between Korean manufacturers and American port operators, Korea Herald reported.
The cranes will be built with POSCO steel, a South Korean steelmaker, reinforcing the Korea-U.S. supply chain angle at the heart of MASGA. The deal signals growing Korean influence in American port infrastructure beyond just shipbuilding.
WUT's Size and Inland Rail Give HMM a West Coast Edge
WUT sits on a 510,000-square-meter site with a 793-meter berth. It currently runs eight quay cranes and six yard cranes. Its on-dock rail system can handle 26 railcars at once, giving HMM strong access to inland U.S. markets, according to SE Daily.
The new cranes will boost both reliability and throughput at the terminal. Bigger ships will be able to dock and unload faster once the upgrade is complete by 2028, Splash247 reported.
HMM Bets Big on Global Port Expansion Beyond Tacoma
The WUT upgrade is one piece of a larger HMM strategy. The South Korean shipping line signed a memorandum of understanding with India's Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority for the new Vadhvan Port project, Korea Herald reported. HMM is also developing Terminal TTIA at Algeciras, Spain.
Together, these moves show HMM building a global network of modernized port hubs — from the U.S. West Coast to South Asia to the Mediterranean. Each project targets faster, higher-capacity cargo handling as container ships keep getting bigger.
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