Tacoma Port, School District Break Ground on Port Maritime Center

Port of Tacoma officials recently took part in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new business office and a maritime skills center. Photo: Port of Tacoma.

The Port of Tacoma and Tacoma Public Schools on Jan. 8 held a groundbreaking ceremony for the future Port Maritime Center, a 20-acre project that includes a new business office for the port and the Maritime|253 skills center.

“The Port Maritime Center will be the new front door to the Port of Tacoma, allowing us to better connect with the community and bringing new life to the east side of the Foss Waterway,” Port Commission President John McCarthy said.

“Our unique partnership with Tacoma Public Schools makes this a transformational project that will help inspire and grow the future of the maritime industry in our region,” he added.

The Maritime|253 would offer Pierce County junior and senior high school students trade and maritime career and technical education such as manufacturing, maritime sustainability and logistics free of charge, according to the announcement.

Programs for Maritime|253 are set to start this fall at temporary sites while the permanent facility is being built. The new building is expected to open in Fall 2026, while the new 60,000-square-foot modern port business office is set to open in Spring 2027.

“Years of hard work, dedication and collaboration have brought us here,” Tacoma Public Schools’ Board President Korey Strozier said. “We’re shaping the future of maritime in our region and opening doors for more young people to step into an industry that’s critical to our community’s growth. This is a proud and exciting moment for all of us.”

By Karen Robes Meeks