History of Washington Ports

Each of Washington 76 ports has its own unique characteristics. Ports range in size, the scope of their facilities and operations, and their locations—some are on water, while others are far inland.
Historically, private owners—primarily railroads—exercised monopolistic control over shipping rates and made arbitrary decisions about which products were allowed to pass across the wharves. In order to promote and protect all commerce, the state legislature responded in 1911 by authorizing the public ownership and management of Washington’s ports. The legislature passed an enabling act, permitting the creation of public port districts. On a broad scale, ports engage in economic development activities. Ports are the only public agencies whose primary mission is to spur economic development. Ports do this by acquiring, developing, leasing or selling, operating and maintaining facilities for all forms of transfer—air, land, and marine—in accordance with RCW 53.08. Ports can also participate in varying projects to promote tourism.
Washington’s early waterfront years were marked by a problem common to many states: private ownership of critical waterfront transportation facilities enabled a few private parties to charge monopoly prices for the use of important public harbor assets.
Waterfront monopolies in Washington were first broken in 1889 when the new state constitution declared that the beds of navigable waters belonged to the people and the Legislature could designate what places would be harbor areas. It also provided a system for leasing waterfront tidelands and uplands in those areas. In 1911, the Legislature enacted laws that allowed citizens to establish port districts and elect commissioners to administer the districts and oversee their development and operation. After this, the ports belonged to the public, and the people who used them were freed from the problems created by private monopolies.
Washington state districts were originally authorized to provide maritime shipping facilities and rail/water transfer facilities. Since then, many additional authorities have been granted to: build and operate airports (1941); establish industrial development districts (1955); develop trade centers (1967), and; develop economic development programs and promote tourism (1980s).
While many port laws have changed since 1911, the most important provisions still remain. Because they are public, but must operate in a proprietary way - much like private business - public ports are a special form of local government. Ports are still governed by state and federal laws.