NWSA Terminal 46 Request for Proposals

The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), a marine cargo operating partnership of the ports of Tacoma and Seattle, is now accepting proposals for Terminal 46, a 50-acre deep-water marine terminal.

The port authority based in the Puget Sound region of the United States said that the successful proposal will align with and support our goal of growing cargo volumes and creating family-wage jobs in the Puget Sound region, while diversifying the gateway’s overall cargo portfolio.

Strategically located on the Seattle waterfront with convenient access to major road and rail infrastructure, this property is uniquely suited for water-dependent uses including marine cargo operations, logistics and other maritime-supported activities.

Terminal 46 has a long history as one of the busiest marine cargo terminals in the Pacific Northwest. As part of a realignment of cargo and infrastructure, including the authorization to modernize Terminal 5, Terminal 46 is no longer being utilized for international container cargo operations.

The NWSA and the Port of Seattle have approved an agreement that allows for the conversion of Terminal 46 to two distinct operations.

The NWSA, through this RFP, is pursuing development of a 50-acre cargo terminal that could include marine-industrial support businesses. The marine cargo terminal will include 1,400 feet of the west-facing berth with a depth of -50 feet mean lower low water.

Separately, the Port of Seattle is in the process of developing the remaining 29 acres into a single-berth cruise terminal to accommodate the growing demand for its Alaska cruises. The facility will use 1,500 feet of the north end of the west-facing berth for cruise operations.

The NWSA and the Port of Seattle envision the entire Terminal 46 site, including the cargo and cruise operations, as a flexible maritime transportation facility and a critical asset to Seattle’s working waterfront.