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MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
FOR COOPERATION BETWEEN THE PORT OF SEATTLE AND THE WASHINGTON MARITIME
BLUE CLUSTER ORGANIZATION FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF WASHINGTON STATE’S
STRATEGY FOR THE BLUE ECONOMY AND DEVELOPMENT OF A MARITIME INNOVATION
CENTER
This Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) is entered into on this ____ day of , 2019, by
the PORT OF SEATTLE, a port district and Washington municipal corporation (“Port”), and
WASHINGTON MARITIME BLUE, a Washington nonprofit organization (“Maritime Blue”),
(collectively the “Parties”).
Port of Seattle:
Founded in 1911, the Port of Seattle is a special-purpose municipal corporation serving the citizens
of King County; its mission is to create good jobs here and across the state by advancing trade and
commerce, promoting manufacturing and maritime growth, and stimulating economic
development.
The Port of Seattle’s vision is to add 100,000 jobs through economic growth led by the Port, for a
total of 300,000 Port-related jobs in the region, while reducing our environmental footprint. They
are committed to creating opportunity for all, stewarding their environment responsibly, partnering
with surrounding communities, promoting social responsibility, conducting themselves
transparently and holding themselves accountable.
The Port of Seattle is a leader in moving people and cargo across the country and around the world.
With facilities and property ranging in scope from a half-acre park to one of the largest airports and
container terminals on the West Coast, they maximize the public assets in their portfolio with an
eye toward best uses and environmental sustainability.
Washington Maritime Blue:
Washington Maritime Blue is a 501 C(6) nonprofit organization that works to support acceleration of
technology innovation for a sustainable and competitive Washington maritime industry. Washington
Maritime Blue is a strategic alliance for maritime innovation and sustainability, and works as an
independent cluster organization to implement Washington State’s Strategy for the Blue Economy
delivered by Governor Jay Inslee’s Maritime Innovation Advisory Council. As a partnership between
industry, public sector, research & training institutions and community organizations the
organization’s mission is to create a world-class, thriving, and sustainable maritime industry through
knowledge sharing, collaborative R&D, commercialization, business and workforce development.
Washington State’s Strategy for the Blue Economy (Maritime Blue Strategy) contains the vision that
Washington state will be home to a world-class, thriving, and sustainable maritime industry by
2050. The strategy describes five goals and the associated pathways to achieve this vision. Maritime
Blue is the cluster organization that is charged to lead implementation of Washington State’s long-term
strategic plan as a partnership with business, government, research and training institutions, Ports, labor
Item No: 3b_attach
Meeting Date: July 23, 2019
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organizations, economic and workforce development, and community-based organizations. Their
mission is to lead the country in maritime clean tech innovation and best management practices
that will support a strong maritime economy with increasing living-wage jobs, a healthy
environment and resilient communities.
Whereas, the Ocean economy is projected by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) to double in value to $3 trillion by 2030 and provide maritime regions
around the world significant economic development opportunities.
Whereas, Washington’s maritime economy supports 69,500 jobs, $4.7 billion in wages and
$21.4 billion in business revenue.
Whereas, Washington State’s maritime economy is uniquely poised to assert itself as a global
leader in innovation and sustainability while fostering a growing economy in an increasingly
competitive national and international marketplace.
Whereas, the Port of Seattle supports quality jobs here and across the state by advancing trade
and commerce, promoting manufacturing and maritime growth, and stimulating economic
development.
Whereas, the Port of Seattle is making pivotal investments to sustain Seattle’s working
waterfront and enjoys strong deep partnership with other public and private maritime
organizations
Whereas, the Port of Seattle actively supports the growth of cruise, logistics, fishing and other
maritime lines of business.
Whereas, The Port strives to be the greenest port in North America and has set ambitious
environmental and greenhouse gas reduction goals.
Whereas, the region’s maritime industries would benefit from novel technologies, promising
ventures, investment capital, energized entrepreneurs, and some positive disruption.
Whereas, the region could benefit from exploring opportunities in areas such as maritime
security, digitalization, renewable energy, vessel electrification, and new ship/vessel design.
Whereas, Washington State’s Strategy for the Blue Economy is a bold new plan to position
Washington state as the national leader in maritime clean technology and innovation that will
support a strong maritime economy with increasing living-wage jobs, a healthy environment and
resilient communities.
Whereas, Washington State’s Strategy for the Blue Economy identifies initiatives and policies that
are vital to the Port of Seattle’s maritime operations and interests.
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Whereas, both signatories place emphasis on fostering an environment of innovation as a key factor
for economic growth and recognize and value the potential benefits of collaborative activities
described in Washington State’s Strategy for the Blue Economy, such as developing a Maritime
Innovation Center.
In consideration of mutual promises and covenants contained herein, the Parties hereby
stipulate the following:
1. AREAS OF COOPERATION:
The Maritime Blue Strategy goals and initiatives identified below represent areas of alignment
with the Port’s objectives:
Maritime Blue Goal - Growing Gateways & Working Waterfronts
To maintain its working waterfronts and lead the nation in efficient, clean and safe maritime
practices across all sectors of the industry, the Maritime Blue strategy identifies key initiative
areas that align with the Port’s objectives.
Initiative: Smart Ports
Establish thought leadership for how the industry can leverage technologies for improved
efficiencies and safe and sustainable operations while growing and securing jobs.
Initiative: Infrastructure and Regulatory Reform
Help create an innovative, predictable and efficient regulatory structure that sustains long term
maritime infrastructure and enhances company competitiveness.
Initiative: Blue Gateway
Build on Washington’s brand as a Blue Gateway and advance triple bottom line outcomes.
The Port and the Maritime Blue cluster organization will strive to work cooperatively to advance
the initiatives above. As an example, the Port of Seattle plans to make investments in sustainable
maritime infrastructure that supports its key lines of business. Another example involves the
Maritime Blue organization working to advance data sharing and digital platforms for increased
efficiency, safety and health throughout the gateway.
Maritime Blue Goal – Global Innovation Hub
To drive the commercialization of emerging blue technologies in Washington through strategic
partnerships and achieve the pathway of “Blue Innovation”, the Maritime Blue strategy identifies
key initiative areas that align with the Port’s objectives.
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Initiative: Modernization of Fishing, Seafood and Ocean Innovation Demonstration Projects
Support and enable innovation in modernization of the fishing and seafood industry through
modernized vessels, use of optimization technologies, sustainable technologies and gear, and
other sustainable ocean resource utilization.
Initiative: Maritime Innovation Center
Develop a Maritime Innovation Center to support and help advance promising maritime
entrepreneurs and innovators. Leverage partnerships and resources to advance new technologies
and proven solutions from around the world.
The Port and the Maritime Blue Cluster organization are already working together to advance the
initiatives above. The Port, for example, is supporting the fishing industry’s modernization efforts
by adding moorage for larger vessels. Maritime Blue is advancing innovation by completing a
comprehensive study of venture funding that could be tapped to support early stage maritime
companies. Both the Port and Maritime Blue are also cooperatively working to develop a new
pilot maritime accelerator program.
Maritime Blue Goal – Thriving, Low Carbon Industry
To achieve deep decarbonization, the Maritime Blue strategy identifies key initiative areas that
align with both Maritime Blue and the Port’s objectives:
Initiative: Low-carbon shore side infrastructure
Deploy low carbon energy and alternative fuel infrastructure utilizing innovative technologies for
generation, storage and energy efficiency.
Initiative: Strategies for emissions reductions
Implement strategies to accelerate the uptake of low carbon technology to reduce emissions for
ships and shore side.
The Port and the Maritime Blue Cluster organization will strive to work cooperatively to advance
clean energy shore side infrastructure and reduce ship and shore side emissions. The Port has
been a world leader developing low-carbon infrastructure like cold ironing and is currently leading
the Seattle Waterfront Clean Energy Strategic Plan to decarbonize the Seattle Harbor. Maritime
Blue is also convening public and private partners to advance greenhouse gas emission reduction
strategies and technologies across the region and will support stakeholder engagement and
technology solutions.
Maritime Blue Goal - 21
st
Century Workforce
To ensure the Maritime industry develops a diverse talented workforce for the future, the
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Maritime Blue strategy identifies key initiatives that align with the cluster organization and the
Port’s priorities:
Initiative: Career pipeline, pathways, and connections
Ensure current & future maritime workforce pipeline with skill demand forecasting, mapping
career pathways, and connecting learning strategies with career opportunities.
Initiative: Inclusivity, support, and outreach
Increase outreach and engagement to create broader, more equitable and more inclusive
opportunities for participation in the maritime workforce.
The Port will help lead development of an inclusive and diverse maritime workforce with
technological expertise and access to clean, healthy, quality jobs:
The Port and the Maritime Blue Cluster organization will strive to work cooperatively to address
the maritime industry’s workforce needs. The Port supported the development of the Youth
Maritime Collaborative, a partnership between youth serving maritime organizations. The
Collaborative offered career orientation and maritime experience to approximately 600 students
last year. The Maritime Blue organization now convenes the Youth Maritime Collaborative
partners and recently developed a new strategic plan for maritime career connected learning.
Given the depth of workforce issues facing the maritime industry, it may take additional
collaboration between Maritime Blue, the Port of Seattle, and others to develop and advance
tailored training and workforce development initiatives.
Maritime Blue Goal – World-Class Cluster Organization
To facilitate implementation of Washington State’s Strategy for the Blue Economy, the cluster
organization (Maritime Blue) is advancing regional and statewide efforts. This organization’s work
aligns with Port projects and priorities in several areas:
Washington Maritime Blue Initiative: Blue Forums
Sponsor networking opportunities and workshops to develop new technology and knowledge
sharing across member expertise while serving as a platform for cross sector collaboration.
Washington Maritime Blue Initiative: Blue Forward
Provide a platform for collaborative R&D projects, Joint Industry Projects (JIP), teaming for grant
opportunities, and business development to drive solutions and commercialization of new
technology.
Washington Maritime Blue Initiative: Blue Finance
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Serve as a conduit for public and private funding opportunities and work to support a privately
capitalized innovation fund.
The Port and the Maritime Blue cluster organization will benefit from working together to advance
short and long term strategies. As an example, the Port will benefit from the cluster’s work to
develop funding for maritime ventures. In turn, the cluster organization will benefit from the
Port’s development of a maritime innovation center.
2. SUPPORT AND COORDINATION:
To further implementation of Maritime Blue initiatives, the Port and the Maritime Blue cluster organization
will jointly develop annual workplans, as needed, that outline and formalize each organization’s roles and
responsibilities towards implementing Maritime Blue projects and initiatives. This work plan should
identify joint goals, metrics, outcomes and funding needed to successfully support maritime accelerator
initiatives, workforce training programs and a host of other Maritime Blue initiatives.
3. DURATION OF AGREEMENT
This Memorandum of Understanding will cover a five-year period from the date the agreement is executed.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has executed this MOU by having its authorized
representative affix his/her name in the appropriate space below:
WASHINGTON MARITIME BLUE
By:_ Date Joshua Berger, Board Chair, Washington Maritime Blue
PORT OF SEATTLE
By:_ Date Steve Metruck, Chief Executive Officer, Port of Seattle
