Port of Seattle, Gateway for Goods to Alaska

It is Washington Trade Week, and the Port of Seattle is taking this occasion to highlight a different trade partner for each day of the week. Today, we honor trade with Alaska through our barge businesses.

Carrying these containers to and from Alaska are the barges located on the Duwamish River, and visible throughout Puget Sound. These carriers' outbound cargo typically includes building materials such as cement and steel, food products, chemicals, and refined oil, along with all of the necessities for living such as automobiles, furniture, medical equipment/supplies, US Mail, department store merchandise, household goods, military supplies and equipment, and virtually every other durable and consumable good not grown or manufactured in Alaska. Inbound cargo typically includes seafood, forest and petroleum products.

The impact on the Puget Sound economy is significant, with more than 100,000 jobs and around $3.8 billion in goods and services linked to doing business with Alaska. Barge carriers serving Alaska from the Port of Seattle include: Northland, Alaska Railbelt Marine, Alaska Marine Lines, Boyer Towing, Alaska Logistics Company, Sea-Tac Marine, Samson Tug and Barge, Coastal Alaska Lines, and Western Towboat.