Fishermen's Terminal Completes Million in Upgrades

The Port of Seattle recently completed $9 million worth of upgrades to the electrical system and the West Wall at Fishermen's Terminal. "These investments are part of a $25 million commitment by the Port to serve the North Pacific fishing fleet over the long-term," said Jim Serrill, General Manager of Fishermen's Terminal.

The $7 million in electrical upgrades significantly increases the amount of electrical power available at the Terminal.

"Our customers told us they wanted improvements to the electrical system, so that's what we gave them," said Serrill. "Gone are the days of brownouts on Northwest Dock and low voltage at the ends of the other docks."

The new electrical system brings 81 new 100 amp, 208 volt outlets and 35 new 200 amp, 480 volt outlets to Northwest Dock. The West Wall has 24 new 100 amp, 208 volt outlets and six new 200 amp, 480 volt outlets. The concrete portion of Dock 3 has six new 100 amp, 208 volt outlets, and the concrete portion of Dock 4 has nine new 100 amp, 208 volt and four new 200 amp, 480 volt outlets.

The project also puts the infrastructure in place to upgrade the electrical systems of the remaining docks when they are refurbished at a future date. "This is the best power availability among West Coast fishing and work boat harbors," said Serrill. The electrical upgrades will make it easier to operate on-board power equipment while at berth.

In addition to the electrical work, $2 million worth of structural upgrades to the West Wall were completed in October. Five hundred feet of the 1939 wooden retaining wall was replaced with steel sheet pile. The first five hundred feet of the 1,000-foot retaining wall was replaced in 1987. "It gives us 1,000 lineal feet of moorage with virtually unlimited access for trucks and other heavy equipment," said Serrill.

Future improvements planned for Fishermen's Terminal include a $12.8 million reconstruction of the South Wall, a $3 million replacement of the wooden portions of docks 3 and 4 in, and a commitment to upgrade and reconfigure docks 5 through 10 over the next five years.

Port of Seattle Fishermen's Terminal staff members will discuss plans to upgrade the Terminal at Fish Expo, Friday, November 16, from 3:30 to 5 p.m., in room 307-308, at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. Fish Expo is the commercial fishing and work boat industry's largest annual trade show. The event runs November 15 through 17. For more information on Fish Expo call 800-454-3005 or visit the Web site at www.fishexposeattle.com or www.workboatnw.com.