Marine Exchange of Puget Sound

10/16/2026

The U.S. Coast Guard has proposed eliminating six STCW training requirements for certain Merchant Mariner Credential endorsements.

"The proposal would affect Masters and Officers in Charge of a Navigational Watch serving on vessels of less than 500 gross tons in near-coastal waters, as well as certain engineering officers, Designated Duty Engineers and Electro-technical Ratings serving aboard vessels with propulsion machinery of 750 kilowatts, or 1,000 horsepower, or more."

Public comments are being taken until December 30 under docket USCG-2025-0392.

The U.S. Coast Guard is proposing to eliminate six training and competency requirements for certain Merchant Mariner Credential endorsements, saying the rules exceed international standards and impose unnecessary costs on...

10/15/2026

Maintenance dredging of the Everett Harbor and Snohomish River federal navigation channel begins as early as Oct. 16. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Seattle District expects work to run around the clock for about 60 days, removing roughly 175,000 cubic yards, with all work finished by Feb. 14, 2027.

The channel stays open during dredging. Boaters and fishermen are asked to keep themselves and their gear at least 300 feet from the channel and placement areas.

Maintenance dredging at Everett Harbor and Snohomish River is expected to start in the lower settling basin as early as Oct. 16, 2026. Dredging will be performed continuously by American Construction

10/14/2026

The Washington State Maritime Cooperative is offering its annual HAZWOPER 8-Hour Refresher at no cost on Wednesday, October 21, at the Silver Cloud Hotel, Point Ruston in Tacoma. This year's session focuses on ammonia, hydrogen, methanol, LPG, and lithium-ion batteries, the alternative fuels and energy sources now moving through Puget Sound.

The refresher is also followed by a conference the next day discussing AI in emergency response, regional marine firefighting readiness, current policy issues in maritime response, and more.

Register online for the training and conference at https://www.wsmcoop.org/2026-seminar

10/14/2026

"Freight is like water, it flows wherever it's easiest to go."

OUT NOW on the , Mike Jacob, President of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, on what states can do to bring more cargo through their ports. He points to Georgia and Texas, where investment have gone into distribution centers and fuel infrastructure that draw cargo owners in, not just into the terminals themselves.

The full episode also gets into the harbor maintenance tax, decarbonization, and the pressure on Puget Sound from nearby neighbors.

Thank you, Mike, for discussing this big maritime picture with us.
https://maritimemorningbrief.podbean.com/

10/12/2026

The Great Washington ShakeOut is this Thursday, October 15 at 10:15 AM, and it's the perfect time to practice what you and your crew would do if the ground starts shaking.

Note: Tsunami sirens across Washington will be tested during the drill with the actual warning wail.

If you want to officially register as a ShakeOut participant or learn more, head over to: https://www.shakeout.org/washington/

Find your evacuation maps and the WA Tsunami Boater's Guide: https://mil.wa.gov/tsunami

10/08/2026

MARAD named 16 new Centers of Excellence for maritime workforce training with two here in Washington.

"The additions expand Marad's Centers of Excellence network to 48 institutions operating 87 training facilities across 28 states and territories. The centers collectively train about 58,000 mariners, apprentices and students annually, according to DOT."

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (Marad) has designated 16 maritime training institutions and consortiums as 2026 Centers of Excellence for Domestic Marit

10/07/2026

OUT NOW on the : our special episode with Mike Jacob, President of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association.

Container arrivals in Puget Sound have held flat this year. Mike explains what that does and doesn't tell us, and what it would take to grow from here.

We also cover PMSA's 80-year history, protecting industrial land on the waterfront, the harbor maintenance tax, sustainable maritime fuels, emissions progress at California ports, automation, and what he wishes more people knew about this industry.

Thank you, Mike, for sitting down with us. As Patrick said in the episode, we could have listened all day, but for the sake of our listeners we will take this hour and look forward to the next!

Listen now: https://maritimemorningbrief.podbean.com/
& Sign up for PMSA's West Coast Trade Report: pmsaship.com

10/06/2026

A great Saturday spent celebrating and educating alongside the Seattle Propeller Club & Sea Scouts (Sea Scout Ship Propeller) at this year's Fishermen's Fall Festival.

Thanks Port of Seattle for having us!

10/05/2026

Washington State Ferries is running reduced or no service on several routes today after crew call-outs, leaving 13 of the fleet's 18 ferries out of service.

Seattle/Bainbridge, Edmonds/Kingston, Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth, and Port Townsend/Coupeville were out of service this morning, with reduced service on Seattle/Bremerton, Mukilteo/Clinton, and Anacortes/San Juans.

Check WSF travel alerts before heading to the terminal.

Ferry riders will have a tough commute -- or maybe none at all Monday -- due to crew shortages at Washington State Ferries (WSF).

10/05/2026

This Wednesday's episode of the is definitely for all you out there who, like us, identify as Maritime Nerds✋️

Mike Jacob, President of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, joined us to get into everything from cargo trends and the harbor maintenance tax, to sustainable fuels and all the numbers that go with then, to what it will take for Seattle and Tacoma to compete with our neighbors to the north.

Thank you, Mike, for nerding out with us and sharing just a small piece from your wealth of knowledge.

Out Wednesday! https://maritimemorningbrief.podbean.com/