When an out-of-state shipyard won the bid to build three new Washington State Ferries last year, it served as a wake-up call for many of us in the local maritime community. Construction and maintenance of these iconic ships could employ hundreds of well-paid workers and inject nearly a billion dollars in direct investment into our communities. Instead, those benefits are going to Florida.
I went to work at once to understand the difference in cost between a ferry built in the Gulf Coast versus one built in the Puget Sound. What I learned from workers, shipyards, and vessel owners was that we suffer from death by a thousand cuts. There is no single reason. Rather, at every step in the process, our costs are incrementally higher than our counterparts in Mississippi, Florida, or Louisiana, adding up to a final price around 30% higher. This also means that, instead of tackling one big problem, we’ll have to address multiple problems all at once. We’ll need to find affordable land for our shipyards to grow; reduce the cost to recruit, train, and retain skilled workers; streamline permitting; eliminate outdated and burdensome contracting requirements; improve financing for shipyards to upgrade equipment; and create mechanisms for serial production so that shipyards and suppliers can bank on a steady order book over time.
That’s a lot.
But it’s not impossible if we take an all-hands-on-deck approach to revitalize Washington’s shipbuilding. I made this a priority by providing money in the Port’s 2026 budget to continue work on this issue. We’ve launched an internal workgroup at the Port of Seattle that pulls from our incredible in-house expertise on workforce development, engineering, real estate, and economic development. In my role at the Washington Public Ports Association, I brought together eleven Washington ports to launch the Maritime Industrial Base Coalition to strengthen and expand the state’s maritime manufacturing and shipbuilding capabilities. We have also been talking with counterparts in city, county, and state government to understand how each layer of government can contribute.
Time is of the essence for these efforts. By 2040, the state will need at least a dozen new ferries. Our North Pacific fishing fleet is aging and needs renewal, the Navy and Coast Guard are expanding, and there is bipartisan momentum in DC to expand U.S. shipbuilding capacity. If we don’t tackle these challenges now, the opportunity to build these ships at home will sail by.
The national momentum is evident in the release last month of the federal Maritime Action Plan, which underscores the importance of America’s maritime sector to our economy and national security. The plan calls for expanded funding for the Port Infrastructure Development Program, implementation of a Land Port Maintenance Tax at a rate equivalent to the Harbor Maintenance Tax, and new Maritime Prosperity Zones to attract private investment. These steps will help strengthen the maritime industrial base and create the foundation for the next generation of jobs.
Our region is uniquely positioned to lead this effort. With a proud history of shipbuilding and a growing ecosystem of advanced manufacturing and technology, we have the expertise and facilities to support a modern, resilient maritime economy. The Port of Seattle is committed to working as a collaborative partner with federal agencies, industry stakeholders, and local communities to ensure these investments translate into real opportunities for Washington workers and businesses.
As we move forward, we will advocate for policies that enhance port infrastructure and connectivity while cautioning against measures that could increase costs for cargo operations or undermine important environmental protections. Together, we can build a stronger maritime future that jointly supports trade, security, and sustainability.
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