# Tacoma (US TIW)

**UN/LOCODE:** US TIW  
**Country:** United States  
**Water Body:** Alaska-Canada coastal waters; North Pacific Ocean  
**Harbor Size:** Medium  
**Harbor Type:** Coastal (Natural)  
**GPS:** 47.2833, -122.4167

Formed in 2015 when Tacoma merged its cargo operations with Seattle, the Northwest Seaport Alliance makes this Washington deep-water harbour part of North America's fourth-largest container gateway, which handled about 3.34 million TEU in 2024, up 12% on 2023. Around 70% of import boxes leave by rail on BNSF and Union Pacific for the Midwest and US East Coast rather than by road. Containers cross Husky Terminal, Washington United Terminals and Pierce County Terminal, with channel depths above 20 metres handling large post-Panamax ships. Beyond boxes, the port handles automobiles, breakbulk and project cargo, and dry bulk. Its position deep in Puget Sound shortens the great-circle route to Northeast Asia compared with Californian ports. Customs and import clearance run through US Customs and Border Protection, and Tacoma is a scheduled call for major transpacific lines. A dedicated intermodal yard links the quays directly to the long-haul rail network. For southern-California-bound freight, Los Angeles/Long Beach remain the obvious alternative, with Vancouver to the north.

## Transit Times & Routes

- [Los Angeles → Shanghai](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/los-angeles-shanghai)
- [Los Angeles → Shenzhen](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/los-angeles-shenzhen)
- [Los Angeles → Guangzhou](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/los-angeles-guangzhou)
- [Los Angeles → Hong Kong](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/los-angeles-hong-kong)
- [Los Angeles → Tokyo](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/los-angeles-tokyo)
- [Los Angeles → Busan](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/los-angeles-busan)

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*Freight Academy — Seaport Profile: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/tacoma-port-us-tiw](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/tacoma-port-us-tiw)*

*Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/seaports/en/tacoma-port-us-tiw](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/seaports/en/tacoma-port-us-tiw)*

*LLM-Summary (JSON): https://www.freight-academy.com/api/v1/seaports/tacoma-port-us-tiw/llm-summary?lang=en*