Ports of Seattle and Tacoma to join forces

After many months of meetings and negotiations, and decades of rivalry, the ports of Tacoma and Seattle on the United States’ west coast have agreed to join forces in a Seaport Alliance to manage their cargo terminals.

Earlier this year the pair proposed an information-sharing agreement to the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), as reported by this publication in January, but at the time both port commissions denied that any change in governance would form part of the discussions.

Port of Tacoma CEO John Wolfe is expected to be the chief executive of the unified maritime port when the alliance becomes official next spring.