Port of Vancouver USA welcomes Sanko Mermaid on maiden voyage

VANCOUVER, Wash. — The Port of Vancouver USA welcomed the Sanko Mermaid, commanded by Capt. Danilo Nacario of the Philippines, on its maiden voyage to the port on August 19, 2009.

Nacario and his 21-member crew were welcomed to Vancouver by Chris Alexander, terminal manager for Kinder-Morgan, Keith Neanover, superintendent for Kinder-Morgan; Beth Sanchez, local agent for Cascade Marine Agencies, along with port representatives Mike Schiller, Patty Boyden, Chrissy Whitters, Dawn Egbert and Debbie Taylor. 

The Sanko Mermaid was built in Japan and launched June 8, 2009. It is 623 feet in length and has a deadweight capacity of 50,757 metric tons. The crew for the vessel’s first visit to the Port of Vancouver USA were from the Philippines. The vessel is owned by Sanko Steamship Company and operated by Sanko Vancouver B.C. Cascade Marine Agencies is the agent for the company.

The ship loaded 12,000 metric tons of bentonite clay and 56 concrete panels while in port. Sanko Steamship Company has approximately 180 ships comprising 13.2 million deadweight tons.

After leaving Vancouver, the vessel sailed to Portland, then Singapore, and on to Saudi Arabia, its final destination to discharge cargo.

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 embarking on 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.

– POV –