The Port of Seattle

Since the beginning of the shipping industry, a port’s efficiency, stability and security have been the deciding factor of its continued existence. Although it has had some hardships recently, Seattle Washington is still one of the most viable ports on the western coast of the United States. The Port of Seattle Washington, due to its utilization of its efficient loading and discharging equipment, and its unique intermodal opportunities, has become one of the most efficient ports to bring cargo into the United States.

Port of Seattle History Although the founding of the city of Seattle Washington occurred in the 1850’s, the port itself was not established until 1911. Because of Seattle’s unique location, it grew into a bustling city and a hotspot for trade and transportation. The city and port of seattle Washington was and is still one of the worlds deep water ports. This Allows for more vessels of a larger size to come to call of the Seattle port. It is also located in a natural protected harbor allowing these ships to anchor close to shore. In Elliot Bay, the shore of the harbor was not what we see and expect today. It was a sharp cliff that climbed sharply from the water. In 1870, the Transcontinental Railroad reached the city of Seattle. This yet another means by which the goods coming in by ship could be transferred into the inner states. This railroad was one of the deciding factors in establishing the port of Seattle. The proposition to officially create the port of Seattle was passed on September 5, 1911. A week later, the commissioners of the port met for the first time and began the plans for Seattle’s first public harbor facilities. This laid the ground work for Seattle to become the large port that is has become today. (Burke, 1995) Although the expansion of the harbor and the nearby railroads played an important role in the development of Seattle, it was not the only thing that has done so. In 1942, the port of Seattle was commissioned to build