Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No. 10a
ACTION ITEM Date of Meeting August 12, 2025
DATE: August 5, 2025
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Rut Perez Studer, Senior Manager Fishing Vessel Services
Mark Longridge Capital Project Manager, Waterfront Project Management
SUBJECT: Fishermen’s Terminal Northwest Dock (C800444) Design Authorization
Amount of this request: $5,900,000
Total estimated project cost:
$50-70,000,000
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission funding authorization for the Executive Director to complete design and
permitting to replace the existing Piers 1 & 2 of the Northwest Dock at Fishermen’s Terminal in
the amount of $5,900,000 for a total preliminary estimated project cost range of $50-70 million.
(CIP # C800444).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This project will replace the north and south legs of both Piers 1 & 2 of the Northwest dock at
Fishermen’s Terminal to ensure the long-term viability of the Port as the home to the North
Pacific Fishing Fleet.
Piers 1 & 2 of the Northwest dock are the oldest part of the Port’s oldest facility, constructed in
1978 & 1979 respectively. At almost 50 years old they are at the end of their service life.
Planned redevelopment includes: Demolition of the four existing timber pile supported piers
(approximately 25,000 square feet); replacing Pier 2 in kind and widening Pier 1 to allow for
vehicle access to the moorage customers; upgrade of the existing timber fender system to steel
to match other previously upgraded areas of the Northwest dock; upgraded electrical capacity
and connection options to meet current code. The project scope assumes no berth dredging will
be required to accommodate existing vessel classes.
JUSTIFICATION
The redevelopment of finger Piers 1 & 2 of the Northwest Dock supports the following Maritime
Division goals toward achieving Century Agenda objectives:
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10a Page 2 of 5
Meeting Date: August 12, 2025
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
1. Continue to increase the economic value of the fishing and maritime cluster including the
number of local jobs and business revenue.
2. Prioritize uses that support the commercial fishing industry, with a focus on anchoring the
North Pacific fishing fleet in Seattle.
3. Supports the Port’s strategy to “be the greenest and most energy-efficient port in North
America” by replacing existing creosote piling with more sustainable materials as well as
modernizing our electrical capacity to modernize along with the fleet.
4. Supports anticipated growth in other maritime sectors and continue the unique multi-use
facility within the Ship Canal.
Diversity in Contracting
The project team will coordinate with the Diversity in Contracting Department to determine
appropriate WMBE aspirational goals for this project.
DETAILS
Piers 1 and 2 are the last remaining original timber sections of the Northwest dock. Built in 1978
and 1979 respectively, these piers have had minor repairs and upgrades throughout the years
including bullrail replacements and electrical upgrades along with much of the rest of the
terminal in 1999. While still functional, these almost 50-year-old piers are reaching the end of
their service life and need to be replaced before any significant failures occur.
Scope of Work
The current authorization is for Port staff time and consultant contract work to complete the
design, permitting, and project management up to the advertisement of the construction work.
The work to be designed includes the demolition of the existing north and south pier structures,
including removal of existing creosote timber piles, installation of new structural piles and deck
paneling, and associated utilities including vessel power and water services. The project will also
replace the existing fender system for the piers and areas to the east on the Northwest dock with
a steel system like that implemented on other parts of the Dock in 2010.
The narrower Pier 1 will be widened to accommodate vehicle traffic similar to the existing
functionality of Pier 2, upgrading the usability of the facility for moorage customers. The project
scope assumes no berth dredging will be required to accommodate existing vessel classes.
The proposed Fishermen’s Terminal Northwest Dock project is a Tier 2 project under the
Sustainable Evaluation Framework Policy Directive. The project team will explore various design
features to minimize impacts on the environment and will implement construction best
management practices. The project team will present their evaluation and recommendations to
the SEAC committee at the 30% design stage.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10a Page 3 of 5
Meeting Date: August 12, 2025
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Schedule
Schedule assumptions below reflect current expected durations for design and permitting;
however, many of these durations are highly variable and controlled by local, state, and federal
agencies, which adds schedule risk to the project.
The design effort should take approximately one year after consultant selection. Permitting for
in-water work is currently the critical path on the schedule, estimated at 12-18 months after
application once 30% design has been completed. This current schedule also assumes that the
project will return to the Commission for Construction Authorization before all permits have been
finalized to optimize the construction schedule.
The schedule assumptions below are conservative but reasonable. All in-water work associated
with the work must be completed within the fish window from December 1 to April 15 of each
construction season. This presents another constraint to the project that will need to be closely
monitored.
Further, the work will need to be carefully planned to minimize the disruption to existing
customer moorage and operations, likely using a phased approach over multiple construction
seasons. Customer and staff feedback will be needed to refine the best construction phasing to
minimize impacts to the active facility operations.
Activity
Commission design authorization 3
rd
Quarter 2025
Design start 4
th
Quarter 2025
Commission construction authorization 1
st
Quarter 2027
Construction Start 3
rd
Quarter 2027
In-use date 3
rd
Quarter 2029
The current cost estimate reflects assumptions that the pier will be constructed in a conventional
manner similar to past facilities and has used typical sections from these past designs to inform
the estimate.
Cost Breakdown This Request
Total Project
Design, Permitting (total) $5,900,000
$6,000,000
Construction $0
$54,000,000
Total $5,900,000
$60,000,000
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10a Page 4 of 5
Meeting Date: August 12, 2025
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
Alternative 1 – Maintain the status quo – Continue to use the timber piers in their current
configuration and condition.
Cost Implications: This alternative carries some uncertainty and risk and accordingly much
variability in cost potential. Maintenance costs for the piers are not currently high but would
expand greatly if the piers were damaged or their condition deteriorated beyond a usable state
or had to be significantly load restricted, for example.
Pros:
(1) Lower initial capital cost.
Cons:
(1) Risk to the structure if kept in use. Deterioration will continue.
(2) The electrical system on the piers will remain ungrounded and not up to current code.
(3) Design and permitting replacement piers if needed due to failure would take
approximately 2 years during which time the damaged sections could be unusable.
This is not the recommended alternative.
Alternative 2 – Replace the existing timber piers with upgraded piers in the same general
alignment and configuration as the current facility but allowing vehicle access to all berths and
upgraded utility connections.
Cost Implications:
Pros:
(1) Provides upgraded facility for tenant use.
(2) Ensures full operation of the berth space for the North Pacific Fishing Fleet.
Cons:
(1) Higher initial capital cost.
This is the recommended alternative.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Cost Estimate
/Authorization Summary Capital
Expense
Total
COST ESTIMATE
Original estimate $60,000,000
$0
$60,000,000
AUTHORIZATION
Previous authorizations $100,000
$0
$100,000
Current request for authorization $5,900,000
$0
$5,900,000
Total authorizations, including this request $6,000,000
$0
$6,000,000
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 10a Page 5 of 5
Meeting Date: August 12, 2025
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Remaining amount to be authorized $54,000,000
$0
$54,000,000
Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds
This project is included in the 2026 to 2030 CIP under C800444 Fishermen’s Terminal Northwest
Dock Rehabilitation with a preliminary total project cost of $60,000,000.
Financial Analysis and Summary
Project cost for analysis $60,000,000
Business Unit (BU) Ship Canal Fishing & Ops
Effect on business performance
(NOI after depreciation)
This project is an enhancement project to the
Fish
er
m
e
n
’s
Terminal Operations; it won't create additional revenue.
IRR/NPV (if relevant) NPV is the present value of the total project cost
CPE Impact
Future Revenues and Expenses (Total cost of ownership)
Extending the service life of our existing assets delays replacement costs, enhancing the
economic viability of our operations. Additional benefits include cost-effectiveness and minimal
disruption to the terminal activities.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
(1) Presentation slides
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
None
