About the Industry
Washington State’s Maritime industry is rooted in the State’s rich history of timber production, its location as a trade hub, and its proximity to some of the world’s most productive fisheries. The Maritime Cluster includes core sectors Passenger Water Transportation; Ship and Boat Building; Maintenance and Repair; Maritime Logistics and Shipping; Fishing and Seafood Processing; and Military and Federal Operations. Companies in the cluster range from owner-operated boatbuilding firms, to Fortune 500 global logistics companies employing thousands in Washington and elsewhere.
Ship and Boat Building, Maintenance and Repair, Fishing and Seafood Processing, and Maritime Logistics and Shipping are the oldest and most established sectors in the state. The region’s competitive advantage in both sectors stems from Washington’s geographical location. As a trading hub linking the rest of the U.S. to Alaska, Canada, and Asia, Washington’s Maritime Logistics and Shipping sector moves goods across the globe efficiently. Additionally, Washington’s natural resources have supported the success of Washington’s economy throughout the history of the State.
(Washington State Maritime Sector Economic Impact Study, 2013)
Ship and Boat Building, Maintenance and Repair, Fishing and Seafood Processing, and Maritime Logistics and Shipping are the oldest and most established sectors in the state. The region’s competitive advantage in both sectors stems from Washington’s geographical location. As a trading hub linking the rest of the U.S. to Alaska, Canada, and Asia, Washington’s Maritime Logistics and Shipping sector moves goods across the globe efficiently. Additionally, Washington’s natural resources have supported the success of Washington’s economy throughout the history of the State.
(Washington State Maritime Sector Economic Impact Study, 2013)