Limited Damage to Port Facilities in Wake of Quake

Sea-Tac Airport is Operating; Cargo Handling Resumes on Waterfront

Most of the Port of Seattle's commercial infrastructure, including Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and the Seaport's container cargo terminals resumed operations following Wednesday's earthquake.

"The Port of Seattle is back in business," said Port Chief Executive Officer M. R. Dinsmore. "Airport and Seaport operations have resumed, which is great news for the tens of thousands in our community whose jobs depend upon our trade and transportation facilities."

"The earthquake is a poignant reminder of the importance of investing in our facilities on behalf of the community," added Port Commission Chair and President Clare Nordquist, noting that the Port has invested $2.1 billion in facilities improvements over the past decade and intends to invest an additional $2.9 billion within the next 10 years. "We were able to come back on-line so quickly thanks to the extraordinary efforts of so many people."

Estimates on earthquake damage to Port facilities are now being compiled.

The Federal Aviation Administration's Air Traffic Control Tower at Sea-Tac was the most seriously damaged part of the Airport. Controllers now are operating from a temporary facility west of the runways. This system is now handling 26 arrivals an hour; normally about 40 flights per hour land at Sea-Tac. As a result, airline passengers should call their airlines for flight status.

"Our buildings held up well, and our passengers were safe," said Gina Marie Lindsey, Managing Director of Aviation for the Port. "We achieved the number-one priority in our emergency plan.

"Now we're doing our best to work with tenants and the FAA to restore full operation," Lindsey said.

Other airport facilities and operations are up and running, including the parking garage and transportation services, such as cabs, shuttles, limos and buses. However, because of street and highway impacts in other areas, travelers should allow extra time to get to the airport.

Seaport container cargo handling operations were temporarily suspended to allow a thorough inspection of the cargo terminals and cranes. Operations resumed Wednesday evening, said Steve Sewell, Managing Director of the Seaport Division. "The rapid and professional response of our Seaport staff allowed customers to resume cargo operations within hours of the earthquake."

According to Sewell, waterfront facilities were immediately inspected to assure structural integrity both above ground and under the docks. Since Wednesday's earthquake, cargo operations have returned to Terminals 5, 18, and 46.

Fishermen's Terminal in Ballard, home to the North Pacific fishing fleet, sustained moderate damage. As of late Thursday morning, the Port facility had not had sewer and fire suppression systems restored to all buildings, and earthquake damage was restricting access to some docks.

Other Seaport facilities, including Shilshole Bay Marina, Bell Harbor International Conference Center, the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66, and Port headquarters at Pier 69, sustained little or no damage and are fully operational.