LEWISTON, ID — Container shipping is set to return to the Inland Northwest for the first time in more than 15 years through a new regional partnership aimed at strengthening trade and reducing transportation costs.
The Port of Lewiston and Oregon Container Terminal (OCT) announced Monday a strategic initiative to reintroduce container shipping along the Columbia-Snake River system, restoring a key transportation link that has been absent since the early 2010s.
Local officials say the absence of container service has forced agricultural producers, manufacturers and other industries to rely heavily on trucking and rail, often increasing costs and creating logistical challenges. The renewed service is expected to provide more efficient and cost-effective shipping options for goods moving to international markets.
Under the agreement, OCT—operating out of Portland’s Terminal 6 under Harbor Industrial Services—will work with the Port of Lewiston to provide transpacific liner service. The partnership is intended to create a “middle-mile” shipping solution, reducing transit times while lowering the carbon footprint associated with long-distance freight movement.
Nez Perce County Commissioner Joe Gish said the return of container shipping will help support regional businesses by expanding distribution options and strengthening the local economy. Port of Lewiston General Manager Scott Corbit described the move as removing a long-standing barrier for industries that have operated without access to container transport for more than a decade.
Oregon Container Terminal President Tim McCarthy said restoring the connection will give agricultural and manufacturing partners a more direct route to global markets, while Lewiston Mayor Dan Johnson called the development a milestone for the region’s economic resilience.
An informational event on the partnership is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott in Lewiston, where businesses and community members can learn more about the project and future shipping opportunities.
The Port of Lewiston is the most inland seaport on the West Coast and serves as a key intermodal hub for the Inland Northwest.
