Alternative Energy Equipment Offloaded at Port of San Diego

Friday, 20 January 2012
Contact: Dale Frost (619) 686-6461

A new business partner has sent its first shipments of alternative energy wind turbine equipment to the Port of San Diego's Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal.

The first shipment of 25 hubs and engine boxes, called nacelles, were sent to the Port by new client USA Corporation on December 23, 2011. A shipment of 16 tower components followed. The components, which arrived in 48 pieces, were offloaded at the terminal in mid-January, 2012.

"This is the start of many more shipments to come," said Jeff Uecker, logistics manager at USA Corporation.

Uecker said USA Corporation evaluated West Coast ports and selected the Port of San Diego for its labor expertise in handling alternative energy equipment, its ample storage space and its ease of truck load-out operations.

From the 96-acre Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, the alternative energy equipment will travel northeast by truck to a wind farm in Tehachapi, California.

USA Corporation's first shipment of hubs and nacelles were transported to San Diego from Brake, Germany, aboard the heavy-lift vessel Hong Kong. Each hub weighs 19 metric tons, each nacelle 72 metric tons. The tower components, aboard the vessel Star Harmonia, arrived from South Korea.

Some time in the first quarter of 2012, the Port of San Diego is expected to handle its first shipment of alternative energy components from India. That shipment will include 20 nacelles and 20 hubs that are manufactured in and exported from India.

Uecker said the shipment from India is a result of efforts by Port of San Diego trade representatives during a maritime trade mission to Antwerp, Belgium in May 2011. The trade team made it clear that the Port of San Diego is experienced in the handling of alternative energy equipment and other niche cargo.

"The Port of San Diego looks forward to importing more wind turbine components from Europe, India and South Korea for the company's U.S. customers," said Ron Popham, principal in the Port's trade office.

Popham, a member of the trade mission to Antwerp, Belgium, said the Port of San Diego will continue to offer competitive pricing and quality customer service and stands ready to assist USA Corporation in developing more wind turbine component business for import through the Port's Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal.

Over the last six years, the Port of San Diego has become a cargo gateway for alternative energy projects. Other wind equipment handled includes importing blades from Japan and towers from Vietnam, and exporting tower components to Honduras.

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An increase in alternative energy imports is anticipated as wind farms grow in national popularity due to the demand for energy that has less impact on the environment.

"We're excited about a busy 2012 and look forward to building our relationship with the Port of San Diego," said Uecker.

USA Corporation, headquartered in Denver, Colorado, is a subsidiary of German Systems SE. The company is one of the world's leading wind turbine manufacturers and is represented by distribution partners and subsidiaries in more than a dozen countries worldwide.

The San Diego Unified Port District was created by the state legislature in 1962 and is responsible for $1.7 billion in public improvements in its five member cities: Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City and San Diego.

The Port oversees two maritime cargo terminals, a cruise ship terminal, 17 public parks, various wildlife reserves and environmental initiatives, the Harbor Police Department and the leases of more than 600 tenant and sub-tenant businesses around San Diego Bay.