Ports of Seattle, Dalian Announce EcoPartnership

Effort will explore environmental, economic sustainability

The Port of Seattle and the Port of Dalian, China have agreed to work with other public and private sector partners on an EcoPartnership to advance environmental and economic sustainability.

"Our green port strategy is designed to help create a truly sustainable supply chain – not just at our port, but at every step along the way," said John Creighton, Port of Seattle Commission President. "This is a strong step toward the international cooperation our green port strategy requires."

Other participants in the EcoPartnership include: The City of Tacoma, Tacoma Public Utilities, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the Puyallup Indian Tribe and SSA Marine.

The EcoPartnership grew out of the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialog (SED), which was established in 2006. Federal agencies involved in the SED and the EcoPartnership include the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Treasury Department.

"It's especially fitting that the Port is involved in this effort," Creighton said. “Dalian and Seattle are sister ports, and we've long had a special relationship with China."

The first Chinese cargo ship to come to the United States after China and the U.S. normalized trade relations came to the Port of Seattle. The event marked the first visit of a Chinese merchant vessel to an American port in three decades.

"Nearly 30 years after Seattle played a key role resuming trade with China, I'm proud that we can build on these strong economic and cultural ties through global sustainability," said Tay Yoshitani, Port of Seattle CEO. "Our green port strategy will help harness the power of the marketplace for a better environment."

The Port and its partners have already taken a number of steps to improve environmental performance in Seattle's harbor, including: use of a biodiesel/ultra low sulfur diesel blend in cargo handling equipment; extensive us of biodiesel in Port maintenance equipment; and development of the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy.

The EcoPartnership will last a minimum of three years and will include examinations of marine terminal planning, construction management, liner development, railway transportation, oil spill response technologies and more. It also calls for a possible pilot project in China and the U.S. that includes other EcoPartnership members.