Pier Side: Adoption of 2021-2026 Strategic Plan tops Thursday’s meeting

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Pier Side, monthly newsletter from the Port of Tacoma

April 13, 2021

In this issue:

Adoption of 2021-2026 Strategic Plan tops Thursday’s meeting

At its public meeting on Thursday, April 15, the Port of Tacoma Commission will consider the adoption of the 2021-2026 Strategic Plan. The latest draft of the Strategic Plan is available on our website.

The public meeting begins at noon and will be streamed live on the Port of Tacoma’s website. You can also dial in at 253-617-4257 and use the conference ID 837 691 354#. View the full meeting agenda.

To deliver comments during the public testimony portion of the meeting, please send an email to comment@portoftacoma.com by 9 a.m. PT, Wednesday, April 14, 2021 that includes your name, the telephone number you will be calling from, and the agenda topic you wish to speak to. Please include “speaker” in the subject line. Written comments may be submitted to the same email address and will be provided to the commissioners.


Ports of Vancouver, BC, Tacoma and Seattle aim to phase out maritime emissions by 2050

photo of  large container ship arriving at a port

The Northwest ports of Vancouver, British Columbia, Tacoma, Seattle, and the combined container operations of The Northwest Seaport Alliance, are jointly committing to a new vision to phase out emissions from seaport-related activities by 2050. In a collaboration among the four ports, the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy seeks to meet this target through changes in equipment, fuels, and infrastructure, supporting cleaner air for local communities and fulfilling the ports’ shared responsibility to help limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

To learn more about the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy, join us at the April 14 virtual community briefing.

Presentations will focus on a strategy for a carbon-free future and actions to reduce and phase out air and climate emissions in six sectors of port activity: oceangoing vessels, cargo-handling equipment, trucks, harbor vessels, rail, and port administration and tenant facilities.

Port staff will also present ideas to spur development and deployment of clean fuels and technologies, while advancing job creation and commerce in the region.

Register today!

  • Date: Wednesday, April 14, 2021
  • Time: 4 - 5 p.m.
  • Location: Microsoft Teams; meeting link will be sent to registered attendees 

Share your vision for Tacoma Tideflats

photo of container ship leaving port

The Port of Tacoma is partnering with the City of Tacoma, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Pierce County, and the City of Fife on a subarea plan to establish a shared, long-term vision, and a more coordinated approach to development, environmental review and strategic capital investments in support of the Port of Tacoma Manufacturing Industrial Center.

Take the online survey and share your ideas on: 

  • How you think the Tideflats should look and function over the next 20 years?
  • What would you want to preserve, create, or change about the Tideflats? 

This survey will remain open through April 30, 2021. All responses are completely anonymous and will be kept confidential.


Port of Tacoma welcomes new tenant Silverback Marine

Silverback Marine

The Port of Tacoma is proud to welcome its newest tenant Silverback Marine, a full-service aluminum boat builder, who has relocated to Tacoma from their previous location in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood.

Silverback Marine specializes in landing crafts, skiffs, offshore boats, barges, dredges, and catamaran boats for a wide customer base that includes maritime, government, commercial, as well as pleasure craft boaters throughout the region. They were recently awarded a contract to build an all-electric pumpout vessel for the Port of Lopez Island. Read more>>


A new light: Preserving Pierce County’s maritime history

photo of browns point lighthouse

The weathered façade and boarded-up windows of the Browns Point Lighthouse belies its radiant history. It’s the only lighthouse in Pierce County, one of only a few art deco lighthouses in the United States and, since 1933, its flashing beacon has welcomed ships to Commencement Bay.

Learn more about how the Port of Tacoma’s Local Economic Development Investment Fund is helping the Points Northeast Historical Society restore the 88-year-old Browns Point Lighthouse. Read more>>

photo of men and women standing in front of a lighthouse

We’re hiring: Join our team

we're hiring

The Ports is a dynamic and exciting place to work! We are committed to employee development, providing a rewarding work environment, and creating opportunities for growth.

View current job opportunities

We work to create and maintain an inclusive workplace that is based on principles of mutual respect and acceptance. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. See our competitive benefits summary.


Weeds are in the eye of the beeholder

photo of dandelion

Some weeds are beneficial to us and our ecosystem. For instance, dandelions may not win any beauty pageants or popularity contests, but they’re special in their own way—and even nutritious! Weeds like dandelions are also important food sources for bees and other pollinators.

Meanwhile, other weeds really are weeds and are not welcome.

Being at the bottom of the watershed means we see all kinds of weeds — both good and bad. They float in on the water, blow in on the wind, or are "deposited" by our bird and wildlife friends. At the Port of Tacoma, we have a robust vegetation management program at the Port to help control and minimize the spread of noxious weeds. Each year, we partner with the Pierce County Noxious Weed Control Board to identify and remove noxious weeds from Port properties. 

In honor of National Weeds Appreciation Day on March 28, the Port Biologist shared this PSA that may have you reconsider your deep-rooted resentment for these hardy weeds. Learn more>>


Ruby-crowned kinglet at Julia’s Gulch

While hiking through Julia’s Gulch earlier this month, we caught a glimpse of this olive-green fella darting around in shrubs searching for delicious insects. This normally shy guy got his party feathers all ruffled in time for spring!

Ruby-crowned kinglets are generally elusive. Males almost always keep their ruby crown hidden from onlookers but will put it in on display to attract a mate and ward off competition.

Julia's Gulch, located at 101 Norpoint Way NE, consists of about 31 acres of open space with steep forested slopes and natural seeps that serve as a natural buffer between the Port industrial area and residential Northeast Tacoma.

Learn more about our wetland habitat restoration and preservation sites.

photo of a bird sitting in a tree

Volunteers needed: Port of Tacoma hosting two Earth Day events April 24

In celebration of Earth Day 2021, we're partnering with Forterra to host volunteer events around the Port on Saturday, April 24. We are recruiting volunteers to participate in two events:

  • Shoreline Trash Pickup at the Dick Gilmur Habitat
  • Wetland Habitat Stewardship at Gog-Le-Hi-Te

We welcome volunteers of all ages (minors must be accompanied by an adult). To maintain proper physical distancing, we have a limited number of spots at each of our events. Learn more and register today!

photo of people removing invasive plants

Port volunteers pack 4,700 pounds of pasta to fight hunger

photo of people repacking pasta

We got a serious arm workout April 3 scooping elbow pasta at the Emergency Food Network warehouse in Lakewood. A group of Port of Tacoma employees and family members spent the morning repacking 4,750 pounds of macaroni—that’s approximately 3,800 servings of mac and cheese!

The food is distributed to food banks throughout Pierce County to help families in need. So far this year we have repacked more than 13,000 pounds of food! Visit EFN’s website to find out how you can get involved.

photo of people repacking pasta