Port of Vancouver USA welcomes Mercury Leader on her maiden voyage

VANCOUVER, Wash. — The Port of Vancouver USA welcomed the Mercury Leader, commanded by Capt. Quazi Mukit Hossain of Bangladesh, on her maiden voyage to the United States on July 16, 2010.
Hossain and his 21-member crew were welcomed to Vancouver by Capt. Minoru Taguchi, Senior Manager of Operations for NYK Line (North America), Inc.; Jay Orrell and Ann Tetreault of Subaru of America, Inc.; Steve Steele, local agent for Inchcape Shipping Services; Doug Beeber, Senior Vice President of Jones Stevedoring; and Robin Wright and Margerie Sedam of Merchants Exchange; along with port representatives Ken Mishler, Greg Westrand, and Deb Taylor.

The Mercury Leader was built in Japan and launched June 18, 2010. The vessel is 610 feet in length and has a deadweight capacity of 15,045 tons. The crew for the vessel’s first visit to the Port of Vancouver USA is from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The vessel is owned by Yamabiko Shipholding S.A. and operated by Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK). Inchcape Shipping Services is the agent for the vessel.

After an initial stop in New Westminster, BC Canada, the Mercury Leader discharged 1,062 Subaru vehicles while in port.

Captions for attached photographs:

Photo #1
The Mercury Leader offloading at the Port of Vancouver USA on her maiden voyage to the United States

Photo #2 (left to right)
Ann Tetreault, Capt. Taguchi, Jay Orrell, Capt. Hossain, Steve Steele, Ken Mishler, Robin Wright, Margerie Sedam, and Greg Westrand

About the Port of Vancouver USA

The Port of Vancouver USA, created by Clark County taxpayers in 1912, is one of the major ports on the Pacific Coast. Its competitive strengths include available land, versatile cargo handling capabilities, vast transportation networks, a dependable labor force and an exceptional level of service to its customers and community.  The Port of Vancouver is in the midst of a year full of projects and developments that will lead to vital job creation, economic stimulation and environmental preservation. By diversifying its cargo mix between bulk commodities, breakbulk and project cargos, the port is responsible for job generation and significant contributions to the tax base for not only its own community, but also the state of Washington. Current expansion of the port’s rail system and development of new port industrial and marine properties will bring new jobs – both short term and long term – and the preservation of wetlands, the creation of enhanced wildlife habitat, and make way for more green/sustainable business partners operating from the port. For more information, please visit us at www.portvanusa.com.