WASHINGTON STATE MARITIME
PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS: With 3,200 miles of shoreline, 50,000 miles of rivers and streams, and direct access to Pacific Ocean shipping lanes, it’s only natural that Washington State has maintained its strong leadership in the maritime industry over the years. Washington’s maritime sector encompasses 2,100 companies, employing nearly 60,000 workers, generating more than $15 billion in gross business income and $4 billion in wages annually. The sector is divided into seven main business lines that create a diverse, yet synergistic ecosystem: CARGO HANDLING AND LOGISTICS: Cargo ship operations, tugs, pilots, terminal operators and other activities at the state’s 75 ports. FISHING AND SEAFOOD PROCESSING: Fishing vessels, onshore and offshore processing facilities and fishing fleet operations. SHIP AND BOAT BUILDING, REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE: Small, medium and large yards serving recreational and commercial markets. PASSENGER VESSEL OPERATIONS: Cruise ships, charters, cruise, sightseeing and excursion operations and the state ferry system, the largest in the United States.
Washington State Department of Commerce
RECREATIONAL BOATING: Marinas, boat sales, maintenance, storage, sport fishing and related activities. MILITARY SUPPORT: For U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and NOAA operations. SUPPORT SERVICES AND MARINE TECHNOLOGY: Fueling operations, marine electronics, refrigeration and gear manufacturers, research and development, supplies, naval architects and other professional services. Maritime companies doing business in Washington not only find a critical mass of customers and partners, but benefit from new ideas and advances in the state’s aerospace, clean technology, composites and information technology sectors. This cross-collaboration between sectors has a spillover effect throughout the maritime industry, from navigation systems and hydrodynamics to fuel efficiency and environmental stewardship.
MAKING WAVES WORLDWIDE
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MARITIME SECTOR OVERVIEW Washington’s proximity to Asian markets and Alaska’s rich fishing grounds make it a natural choice for international trade and fishing and seafood operations. Trade with Alaska has a significant impact on Washington’s economy. An estimated 113,000 jobs are tied in some way to our neighbor to the north, generating $6.2 billion in state wages. Washington is the 4th largest exporter in the United States and one in four jobs is trade related. Of the 75 ports dotting the state, 11 are deep draft and offer convenient access to Pacific shipping lanes. The largest of port operation is in Seattle and Tacoma, jointly operated as the Northwest Seaport Alliance. More than 20 international shipping lines utilize these ports, shipping 3.4 million container volumes annually. The Northwest Seaport Alliance is the 4th largest container gateway in the United States, with China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam representing its top five international trading partners. If time to market is important to you, the Port of Grays Harbor is just 12 miles from open water and a day’s sail closer to key Pacific Rim markets.
Washington State Department of Commerce
More than 700 fishing and seafood processing operations can be found in Washington; the state is second only to Alaska in seafood production. The majority of Alaska’s fishing fleet is homeported in the Puget Sound region, creating additional opportunities in boat building, maintenance, moorage, parts and provisions, particularly since the vast majority of the fleet is scheduled to be replaced in the coming years. Washington is also the largest producer of hatchery reared and farmed shellfish, providing 25% of all domestic production. Washington’s maritime associations and government leaders are working hard to ensure that new boats for the Alaska fleet are built in state shipyards, which represents $7 to $14 billion in potential work. Of the 117 shipyards in the U.S., 29 are located in Washington State. These include All American Marine, Bayview Composites, Christensen Yachts, Dakota Creek Industries, Delta Marine, Foss Maritime, Northern Marine, Armstrong Marine, Nichols Brothers Boat Building, SAFE Boats International, and Vigor Industrial. As a testament to the strength of the industry, more customdesigned luxury yachts are built in Washington than any other state.
WATER RUNS DEEP IN OUR VEINS With so much water and shoreline to explore, it should come as no surprise that the state has the highest per capital boat usage in the United States. An estimated 250,000 personal watercraft ply Washington’s waterways, with an economic impact in excess of $3 billion. Seattle serves as a major cruise ship port for West Coast destinations. Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, Norwegian, Oceania, Princess and Royal Caribbean all offer sailings to Alaskan and Canadian ports of call. Washington’s transportation network is closely tied to the maritime industry as well. The state ferry system – the largest in the United States – has a fleet of almost two dozen ships that connect passengers, vehicles and freight to communities throughout the Puget Sound and San Juan Islands. Washington has seven times more ship engineers than the U.S. average and the state ranks at the top in the concentration of captains, mates and pilots. As the sector’s aging workforce nears retirement,
a new generation of workers is stepping into these roles. These workers are not only schooled in marine science, but also in aerospace, software, hardware, electronics and even nanotechnologies. Public-private partnerships ensure a steady supply of new workers. The University of Washington offers coursework through their School of Marine and Environmental Affairs and School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences. There is also the Harbor Island Training Center and the Seattle Central College’s Seattle Maritime Academy, the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies/Pacific Maritime Institute. The Northwest Center of Excellence for Marine Manufacturing and Technology and the Materials Science Technology program at Edmonds Community College and the Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building offer certificate and degree programs, ensuring that Washington’s maritime industry remains strong through a balance of industry-aligned education and continual knowledge transfer from one generation to another.
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LOOKING TO THE FUTURE For companies interested in doing business in Washington State or investing in existing businesses, rest assured that the future is filled with opportunities. Maritime sector initiatives are focused on three key areas: •
Fostering collaborative public/private partnerships across the sector
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Growing and diversifying the sector
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Ensuring that the workforce is ready and able to meet the needs of the maritime sector of the 21st century
Washington State Department of Commerce
To that end, maritime representatives, associations, government officials and thought leaders are working hard to position the industry for the future. This includes capturing the majority of ship building work for the aging fishing fleet and incentivizing modernization. To improve the infrastructure of our ports, the state’s legislature passed a $16 billion transportation package to improve port access to interstate highways, streamlining the shipment of cargoes throughout North America. The sector has also come together in new ways, creating a unified voice for a very diverse industry. This level of cooperation and engagement is leveraging new opportunities for improving and streamlining the regulatory process, expanding
stewardship of natural resources, improving access to waterways, and strengthening the maritime industry to ensure its continued growth and expansion. While the industry continues to enjoy a healthy annual growth rate, industry leaders are building on that growth with new initiatives. For years, Washington has been a global leader in sustainability, adopting voluntary standards, best practices and emerging technologies to ensure a healthy and sustainable market for its products and services – nationally and internationally.
Replacing and modernizing the aging fishing fleet is a good example. New vessels are being designed and built that exceed existing standards in terms of fuel efficiency, crew safety and productivity. This approach is leading to the construction and launch of a new generation of fishing boats such as the F/V Blue North. This 191-foot longline vessel’s innovative internal haul station not only keeps crews safe and comfortable during the harvest, but also allows non-targeted species to be released back into the wild. It is one of the first fishing vessels in the United States built to meet new Tier III emissions standards.
CONTACT US If you’re in the business of building amazing products or offering cutting edge services to the maritime industry, consider Washington State. We offer visionary businesses a critical mass of companies to partner with, educational partnerships that ensure a continuous stream of highly qualified workers, a marketplace where the best and brightest ideas come from crosspollination and idea sharing, and a quality of life that is nothing short of paradise, for sailors and landlubbers alike.
Give us a call at (206) 256-6100 or email us at moreinfo@choosewashington.com to find out more about the state’s maritime sector and speak with one of our business experts about the waves of opportunity awaiting you in Washington State. Visit us online at www.choosewashingtonstate.com
Washington State Department of Commerce