New Container Line for Portland

The Port of Portland will be receiving weekly visits from SM Line starting in January. The South Korea-based container carrier, established in 2017, will add Terminal 6 to its current Pacific Northwest rotation.

“We look forward to this new service in Portland, which will expand our trans-Pacific service coverage and better connect SM Line with customers in the region,” said SM Line CEO Kee Hoon Park.

Using six 4,300 to 4,500 TEU vessels, the weekly service will begin on Dec. 22 at the port of Ningbo in China then stop in Shanghai, Pusan, Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, Pusan, Kwangyang and Yantian.

“We are thrilled to welcome SM Line and give regional shippers more options and better connect Oregon businesses to global markets,” said port executive director Curtis Robinhold. “This service will help reduce the number of trucks on the road and decrease regional environmental impacts of freight movement.”

Governor Kate Brown’s recent trade mission trip to South Korea played a major role in securing the business. Brown and port officials met with SM Line executives.

“This is great news for Oregon, which will create more jobs for Oregonians and more opportunities for local companies to grow as they market Oregon products overseas,” Brown said. “Oregon sent $1.7 billion in exports to South Korea last year. During our recent trade mission, we met with SM Line executives and made the case for continuing connections with our trading partners in Asia. I’m delighted they made the decision to come to Portland.”

By Karen Robes Meeks