Friday, October 2, 2026
The Port of Olympia is putting its weight behind a large effort to bolster the shipbuilding industry by joining the Washington Public Ports Association’s (WPPA) Maritime Industrial Base Coalition
The Port of Olympia Commission agreed to the move via a memorandum of understanding at a meeting on Monday, March 9. The vote was 4-1.
WPPA Executive Director Eric ffitch told the commission that the goal of forming the coalition is to restore Washington’s competitiveness in the shipbuilding industry.
WPPA has hired consultant firm Blakely Rock Strategies to execute the project, which will be divided into two or possibly three phases.
He said the first phase involves conducting a landscape and gaps analysis to assess the capacity of existing shipyards and workforce challenges. The second phase would focus on developing state and federal policy proposals, while identifying funding needs.
The third phase wouold be optional and only go forward if the consultant's upcoming December report specifically recommends it.
Even for ports without active shipyards, such as the Port of Olympia, ffitch said the coalition would still be beneficial through opportunities for workforce development.
“The so-called silver tsunami — the aging of the workforce in the maritime sector — has been oft-discussed at ports around the state, so the concept of federal investment in maritime manufacturing was instantly, I would say, intriguing to ports with whom I spoke,” ffitch said.
He said joining the coalition carries no financial obligation, as the hired consultant is currently funded by voluntary contributions and port dues. Any future funding would require a separate financial agreement.
Before agreeing to back the memorandum of understanding, commissioners briefly discussed the significance of joining now instead of later.
Commissioner Krag Unsoeld, the lone voter against the agreement, said he wanted more time to better understand the project.
“There was some talk about it in January of this year, but we as commissioners didn't find out about it until this agenda was provided to us,” Unsoeld said.
Commissioners Joel Hansen and Sarah Montano expressed support for joining now, saying they were comfortable with the level of commitment needed for the project.
For WPPA’s part, ffitch said it aims to have all signatories attend a kickoff meeting later this month. He said the ports of Anacortes, Bremerton and Everett have already signed the memorandum, while the ports of Bellingham, Port Townsend and Longview are currently reviewing the agreement.
The state’s aspiration for improving the shipbuilding industry has been driven by President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14269 in April 2025, which sought to restore American maritime dominance.
Washington’s ability to align with the goal was challenged in July 2025 when a major contract for a ferry construction within the state was awarded to a company from Florida.
The firm’s bid undercut the only other bidder, a business based at the Port of Everett, sparking concerns regarding the state’s ability to compete.
In response to the issue, Deanna Keller, a commissioner at the Port of Tacoma, wrote an opinion piece expressing concern over missed opportunities within the state when public money for shipbuilding operations is invested in other states.
WPPA Executive Director ffitch added that Washington has lost more than 20,000 manufacturing jobs over the last five years despite 2021 state legislation that aimed to double the manufacturing workforce.
As a result of these developments, the WPPA has been working toward several solutions, such as the formation of the coalition.
Editor's note: This story has been updated.
9 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
JW
This state is poison and being run into the ground. Why would any manufacturer invest a dime into business hostile Washington?
Monday, March 16 Report this
debpattin
Washington state is in the top tier of US states for international trade. 40% of Washington state jobs are related to trade. It would be great to have the ships that export and import goods to be built here in Washington state. Not only that, but for domestic use, Washington state ferries, both vehicle and passenger ferries, should be built here instead of Florida or abroad. The Washington Public Ports Association’s (WPPA) Maritime Industrial Base Coalition is a big step in that direction.
Monday, March 16 Report this
Quadlok
JW, you and your ilk need to learn to separate the concept of business from the reality of individual and corporate greed. History and the world are full of examples of industrious societies that did not require a coterie of comic book villains and their psychotic hangers on to function.
Monday, March 16 Report this
Olyrkrgrrl
The things that have been suggested by the current president do not have a good track record so far...it's difficult to discern if this is something that we actually need or if it is fake alarmism by the POTUS. It's hard to win the race to the bottom...
Monday, March 16 Report this
johnvaneenwyk
I’m with Krag. Take the time on this one to do the numbers well. Don’t rush into it. At the worst, we end up with shipbuilding on the Port Peninsula—the final nail in the downtown business coffin. It is very difficult to trust the Port when it repeatedly races into the arms of whatever pie-in-the-sky idea comes fluttering along.
Take the time to thoroughly research this idea. Due diligence!
Monday, March 16 Report this
Boatyarddog
Supporting Shipbuilding in Wa State in general is fine by me. I do not want to see Actual Building of Ships on our Ports Pennisula, that idea is absurd.
I'd like to know, what revenus provided this
"as the hired consultant is currently funded by voluntary contributions and port dues."
Port dues, sounds like taxpayer monies.
Im With Krag Unsoled, let us reflect more on what Abilities the port will undertake in the support of Ship building.
Tuesday, March 17 Report this
JoanneMc
Bringing shipbuilding back to South Puget Sound is not realistic.....between our high wages, our relatively strict environmental regulations, and the high cost of building shipyards the whole idea is a 'pie in the sky.'
Tuesday, March 17 Report this
Wesley
This is welcome news. Even more welcome is the leadership from President Trump. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!
Wednesday, March 25 Report this
Boatyarddog
Jeez , wesley , you are so behind the negative view of donald trump in this country. Wake up, He's nothing but a louse and a liar.
Wednesday, April 15 Report this