Working Waterfront Symposium
Around the world, port cities are evolving to meet the needs of the 21st century. For many, this is an opportunity to lean into emerging technologies and to modernize shipping, transportation, and manufacturing to meet emerging needs in the blue and green economy. These changes also create potential conflicts as waterfront property is developed to accommodate the housing and entertainment needs of growing cities. The One Ocean Week Working Waterfront Symposium will dive into these complicated issues with expert panelists from the Pacific Northwest and beyond to discuss how cities, ports, and industry can work together to maintain thriving and diverse economies.
8:00 – 8:45 am Breakfast / Networking (45 minutes)
8:45 – 11:45 am Governance – Collaboration Between Cities and Port Authorities
The Ports of Seattle and other partner ports around the region and world will present on the key issues impacting their working waterfronts. Land use, global shipping trends, planning for alternative energy, and ports’ roles in the blue economy will be among the topics discussed.
Following these presentations, Rico Quirindongo, Director of the City of Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development will moderate a panel discussion among the Port and City representatives. Possible topics include:
Transportation planning and infrastructure
Balanced investment in a diversified economy
Land use policies to support maritime and industrial growth
Workforce development
11:45 am – 12:45 pm Lunch
12:45 – 2:45 pm New Industrial Opportunities
Seattle has a 150-year history as an industrial port-city. The landscape of these industrial business is changing rapidly as the economy evolves. How do the city and the port develop the infrastructure and programming needed to attract advanced manufacturing and logistics to the region and to continue to stay relevant with a diverse economy into the future? In this section we will flip the script and hear from the industrial innovators who are making the transition from start-ups to mass production, and from business leaders that are supporting this transition.
3:00 – 5:00 pm Working Waterfront Tour onboard Argosy Vessel
To round out the day, and to see firsthand the businesses and infrastructure that makes up the Seattle maritime economy, the Port of Seattle will host a working waterfront tour onboard the Argosy Vessel Good Time II. The Ship has capacity for up to 175 people and drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Guest speakers will narrate the tour and touch on topics including:
Waterfront transformation
Cargo operations (featuring longshore leaders)
Habitat restoration and superfund cleanup
Tribal fisheries
Community engagement and community benefit programs
Sustainable fisheries
Tickets go out to sponsors first. Check out the sponsorship page to learn more. For general ticketing, check back mid September. We can't wait to see you there!
By registering for this event, you agree to share your registration information with the organizers of One Ocean Week Seattle (OOWS), receive communications about OOWS, and acknowledge that photos/videos may be taken for promotional use.