Over the past nine months, the Port of Grays Harbor’s Westport Marina staff have worked with consultant Moffatt & Nichol to develop the Westport Marina Modernization Plan.

Funded in part by a grant from the Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB), the plan meets the demands of the fleet, addresses the failing docks, improves electrical utilities and places users in defined and appropriate slips throughout the marina, according to a news release.

Financial feasibility, accommodation of large commercial vessels, and preservation of existing assets were among the guiding factors in the creation of a new concept layout. The plan is expected to be accepted by the Port Commission in December.

The plan will serve as the roadmap for the strategic and phased modernization of the Westport Marina. The draft plan is now available for review on the Port’s website, portofgraysharbor.com.

“The Draft Marina Modernization Plan is a critical planning document for the future of the Westport Marina,” said Port of Grays Harbor Commissioner Tom Quigg. “We thank Moffatt & Nichol, our port staff, and all of the Marina stakeholders who have participated in this effort.

“We have a clear path forward to rebuild and rehabilitate the Westport Marina. A project of this scale will require all hands on deck for success. We look forward to working with our stakeholders and local, state and federal partners to make this concept a reality.”

The Port of Grays Harbor’s Westport Marina is the hub of tribal, commercial, charter and recreational fishing on Washington’s Coast, as stated in a press release. Ranking 10th in the nation for commercial seafood volume with more than 132 million pounds landed, and 19th in the nation for commercial seafood value landed at $71.5 million, the activities at the Westport Marina and its uplands support nearly 2,300 jobs and over $227 million in business revenue every year in rural Southwest Washington.

“This is an exciting time for the marina,” said Westport Marina General Manager Molly Bold. “After a decade of foundational investments and improvements at the marina, we are poised to address the most important piece of all, the floating dock infrastructure. We recognize the projects put forth in the plan will impact every single boater at one phase or another, but these lasting infrastructure improvements will benefit our commercial, recreation, and charter fishermen for generations to come.”

Founded in 1911, the Port of Grays Harbor is one of Washington state’s oldest port districts and Washington’s only deep-water port located directly on the Pacific Ocean.

The Port of Grays Harbor operates four deep-water marine terminals, the Westport Marina, Bowerman Airport, Grays Harbor ship assist services, numerous public waterfront access facilities, in addition to industrial and business parks throughout Grays Harbor County.

The addition of Satsop Business Park increased the Port’s properties to more than 1,000 acres of industrial properties and an additional 1,200 acres of sustainably managed forestland.