Port of Seattle Hoping for Brilliant 21st Century

For the Port of Seattle, 1999 was a year to celebrate the successes of
the 20th Century while investing for continued prosperity in the 21st
. Our many accomplishments also underscored the Port’s ongoing commit
ment to our customers, our community, and our organization.
Construction began on the $300 million doubling of Terminal 18 contain
er facilities to nearly 200 acres which includes expanded on - dock ra
il access to speed the shipment of boxes to inland markets. The Port’
s innovative financing program for this project will save $60 million
in capital capacity.
The Port joined with the largest user of Terminal 18, China Ocean Ship
ping Company(COSCO), in celebrating 20 years of U.S.-China trade acros
s Seattle’s docks. Since COSCO’s Liu Lin Hai marked the resumption o
f trade with its arrival at Terminal 91 in 1979, the Port’s annual wa
terborne trade with China has grown to $6.6 billion.
During 1999, we also welcomed seven new container steamship services f
rom Zim Israel Navigation, Australia-New Zealand Direct line, China sh
ipping Company, Norasia, and expanded services from FESCO and P&O/Nedl
loyd of the Grand Alliance. Overall, the Port nearly equaled its all-t
ime record volume set in 1998, handling 1.49 millionTEUs in 1999 despi
te the departure of Hyundai.
The port continued to invest in general cargo facilities as well, near
ing completion of more than $26 million in phase one improvements to T
erminal 91. New concrete pilings, aprons and electrical will handle di
verse heavy lift and general cargo more efficiently.
Royal Carribbean International(RCI) announced plans to call at the Por
t of Seattle’s new $16 million Bell street Pier Cruise Terminal start
ing in 2000, basing six cruise ship calls out of Seattle in addition t
o the 21 homeport calls already planned by Norweigan Cruise Line’s No
rweigan Sky. With the opening of our new 56,000-sq.ft. premier termina
l in May 2000. the Port will welcome 35 cruise ship visits this year u
p from six in 1999.
At the historic homeport for the North Pacific fishing fleet, Fisherme
n’s Terminal, the Port is spending $7.1 million to upgrade the electr
ical service to accommodate the larger vessels which are the fastest g
rowing segment in the fishing industry. In addition, Fishermen’s Term
inal has also become the home for 52 commercial workboats.
Shilshole Bay Marina was again voted the Best Marina in Western Washin
gton in 1999.
Meanwhile, Sea-Tac launched a $2.6 billion World Class Upgrade expansi
on and renovation program. The Port and local building trades signed a
n extensive Project Labor Agreement that encompasses more than 100 ind
uvidual capital projects slated for completion by 2006. This unparalle
d agreement guarantees family-wage jobs for construction workers at Se
a-Tac, eliminates the potential disruption of travel through Sea-Tac d
ue to labor disputes, and saves the port money.
More than 27 million passengers flew in and out of Sea-Tac, taking adv
antage of 900 new parking stalls and increased short-term parking in t
he existing garage as well.
The Port completed purchase of nearly three-quarters of the properties
needed to build the third runway.