Good afternoon everyone!
Communications Director Sara here, bringing you this week’s Marine Exchange roundup (Patrick is currently in Hawaii—and yes I can assure you, I’m just as jealous as you are).
It’s been a full week in Washington maritime as always, marked by shifting vessel traffic, ongoing work in Olympia, and a sudden (but for now temporary) pause on some of the international tariff pressure.
Let’s dig in.
Executive Summary
- Vessel arrivals decreased 19% compared to last week.
- Patrick Gallagher met with The American Waterways Operators and Sam Hendrickson (Senator Jamie Peterson’s office) this week to educate them on the real-world impacts of the stevedore tax (SB5794) on Washington maritime jobs & operations.
- Tariffs uncertainty continues: On Wednesday, the Trump Administration announced a 90-day pause on most new tariffs—except those targeting China—raising fresh questions about global trade stability.
Vessel Traffic Snapshot
| Category | LAST WEEK | THIS WEEK | % Change |
| BULK | 5 | 6 | 20% |
| CONTAINER | 16 | 14 | -13% |
| GENERAL | 1 | 3 | 200% |
| OTHER | 1 | 1 | 0% |
| RO/RO | 2 | 3 | 50% |
| TANKER | 12 | 7 | -42% |
| TUG/ATB | 3 | 2 | -33% |
| VEHICLES | 7 | 2 | -71% |
Situational Awareness
- Weather: Mostly cloudy with rain across Western Washington’s marine zones. No significant fog or wind disruptions were reported.
- Operational Disruptions: A brief power flicker on Tuesday impacted our offices but had no effect on maritime operations or data systems.
Legislative Engagement & Government Affairs
With just 16 days remaining in the regular session, activity in Olympia is accelerating. Budget talks are intensifying as lawmakers face a multi-billion dollar deficit, but it’s been another strong week for the Marine Exchange’s legislative priorities—five of our seven supported bills remain alive and moving.
Key Legislative Deadlines Coming Up
- April 16 – Opposite House Cutoff
- April 27 – Scheduled Sine Die Adjournment
Given the unresolved budget deficit, a Special Session is likely after April 27 to finalize a balanced budget.
Technology & Data
- AIS Network Status: All 7 towers fully operational, >99.9% uptime. The radio in Ellis is temporarily down, but the team is currently working to restore it.
- System Updates: Ongoing database optimization; no current anomalies or cybersecurity issues
Looking Ahead
- The Harbor Safety Committee meeting link for May 7th is out and can be found here.
- We are partnering with the Sea Scouts to get a blog post out about current updates, ongoing work, and funding help.
- Preparations for the first annual John Ventjeer Youth Maritime Scholarship event are in the works. More information to come, but mark your calendars for June 12th, 4:30-7:30 PM.
Spotlight of the Week: Podcast with Representative Julia Reed
At the end of May Patrick and I had the pleasure of sitting down with Julia Reed, State Representative for the 36th legislative district, to discuss maritime updates for this session, what she is working on, and how maritime community members can stay in touch. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!
We know there’s a lot of uncertainty right now—on the docks, in Olympia, and across the globe. Like many of you, we’re feeling the weight of it all. But please know this: we’re here. Whether you have questions, ideas, or just want to talk through something, the Marine Exchange is your partner.
We will continue to keep moving forward together.
Have a great weekend, everyone.
Sara Zeman
Communications Director, Marine Exchange of Puget Sound
sara@marexps.com
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