Community fifth graders give names to port’s two massive cranes

VANCOUVER, Wash. – The Port of Vancouver USA recently purchased its second mobile harbor crane, and now that both cranes are operational and busy lifting wind energy projects and special oversized cargo, the port staff recognized an opportunity to name both the new arrival and the existing crane.

 Each of the cranes is capable of lifting 140 metric tons – the equivalent of two space shuttles. They are the largest mobile harbor cranes in North America. The Port of Vancouver USA is the only port on the continent to have two such cranes.

 With the help of 31 different fifth grade classes from across the Vancouver and Evergreen school districts which submitted a variety of thoughtful, funny and inventive submissions, the cranes have new identities, and the children who named them earned a field trip to the port to visit their cranes.

The port’s first crane, purchased in 2006, earned the name “Ursa Major” – which also is known as the “Big Dipper”. The name was submitted by Meredith Gannon’s fifth graders at Sacajawea Elementary School in the Vancouver Public Schools.

The port’s new crane, which went into service in April 2009, has been dubbed “Bigfoot”. This name was submitted by Toni Johnson’s Endeavour Elementary (Evergreen School District) fifth graders.

Finally, a third name was selected to represent the port’s crane duo. The two cranes will collectively be known as the “Blues Brothers”, submitted by fifth graders in Audrey Christina’s Crestline Elementary fifth graders in the Evergreen School District.

The three classes will visit the port on June 4 to be recognized and congratulated by Port Commissioners Nancy Baker and Brian Wolfe, as well as Executive Director Larry Paulson. The students will get to see the cranes up close, and will be given a tour of the port.

Plaques representing the names of each crane will also posted be inside the cabs recognizing the classes and schools that won the “Name the Cranes” contest.

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 –