Seattle City Wire

The Port of Seattle took its fair share of hits in 2020, and fingers are pointing directly to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact.

The port has not only weathered the storm but has begun to write its success story with an expansion that will benefit the airport, seaport and hospitality industry. The port reported on all the impacts that have taken place and the changes made as a result of the coronavirus in a YouTube video.

Among the actions taken was the distribution of 115,000 face masks as the sea airport and 290 hand sanitizer stations installed. Despite these efforts, though, there was a 63% decline in sea passengers and the cruise season was canceled.

“Last year COVID-19 changed the way we work and live; we changed, too,” the video said. “To keep stocked up and to keep the region safe, we added new safety measures.”

There was a clean team that worked to keep public spaces open. The restaurants and shops people enjoy also made changes. Despite this diligence, 50% of the travel jobs were lost. There was also a 16.8% decline in total shipping container volume passing through the seaport.

“COVID-19 cut deeply into our travel and hospitality sectors,” the video reported. “People lost jobs and income.”

The video said opportunities were created for the hardest-hit industries and their workers. There is now a major new facility that has created on-site jobs. There will also be a significant investment in the port in the form of $3.7 billion to make the airport and seaport more sustainable and easier to use.

There have been 200 funded temporary jobs created for youth, along with jobs and environmental grants for South King County. Relief has also been provided for the port’s tenants.

“Together we kept Washington going and kept our community safe,” the video reported. "And we'll be here every day, every hour, connecting our region to recovery."