Tay Yoshitani, CEO of the Port of Seattle speaks to the Seattle Propeller Club regarding the state of the Port. Mr. Yoshitani joined the Port of Seattle as its CEO in March 2007. He carries out policies set by the Port Commission and leads the Port’s operating divisions, including the 8th largest container port in the nation and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The Port is also celebrating their centennial this year. Visit: http://www.portseattle.org/
Thank you for having me today! I’m very pleased to join you. It’s been a year since I was last here. If we stop and think back to a year ago, I don’t think I would have predicted that we’d have a record year at our seaport. I might have predicted, though, that we’d still be arguing about the tunnel.
2010 best year ever for seaport cargo 2.1 million TEUs 5.5 million tons in grain 223 cruise ship calls, over 930,000 passengers
When we sent out the press release about our 2010 numbers, we got some attention! CNBC’s morning show Squawk Box did a five-day, five-city series on “Opportunity USA”, highlighting areas that are doing well economically and are ahead of the curve. Broadcast live from Terminal 18 for four hours. Great attention for our customers and partners, showcasing the good work we do together. Here’s a short piece from that program (CUE DVD)
And it wasn’t just a good year economically. We’ve made great progress with our environmental programs as well. On January 1 st we implemented truck program. Scrapped 270 trucks. Pretty smooth rollout – success of collaborative approach ABC Fuels Green Gateway Awards – (list winners) We don’t have to choose environment over economy or vice-versa. Can do right by both.
In case you haven’t noticed, it’s our centennial. We’ve been putting this logo on everything that stands still. Pretty excited. We’re doing several things to celebrate this year: Right now, we are holding a video contest for area schools – submit a video about “what the port means to me.” Winners will receive a financial prize! At Maritime Festival and Fishermen’s Fall Festival, we will have special centennial-themed activities We are hosting an 18 mile bike rally! In the summer we will publish a book about the port’s history – it’s really fascinating. Strategic planning process called Century Agenda Other activities will be announced during the year GREAT website – I wanted to show one part to you, the timeline. (Charla cues up timeline) Click on map, takes you to that property – or go to timeline and explore decade-by-decade. Want to point out the “port stories” section – please go on and enter your stories. At your seat is a bookmark and it has the address.
They say the more things change, the more they stay the same. Some ways that’s true for us – challenges in 2011 echo challenges in 1911. In 1911, there was a lot of conflict about how to access the docks and harbor. People had different ideas about the best way to do that. Sound familiar? Transportation decisions remain crucial to the port’s survival. Not just AWV though that’s important. SR 509, grade separations, invest strategically in the gateways like Seattle/Tacoma. Gateways that create jobs and revenue. Issues of free trade are crucial –in 1921 when Congress imposed a large tariff on soybean oil, the port’s primary import. Took years to recover from losing that cargo. Spoken to you before about competitive threats. They’re real. Prince Rupert, Mexico, Panama Canal. We have to compete effectively as a region and make decisions that support the jobs and business growth we generate together or we’re in jeopardy of losing them. Jobs are still our priority – just as they were in 1914 when longshore workers gained the right to unload trains. It’s not a recovery if it’s jobless. We know how to generate jobs, we need the support of government at all levels. We are the region’s economic engine – that’s our priority just as it was in 1911.