Port of Bremerton outlines multimillion-dollar Port Orchard breakwater project, airport and industrial plans

Jim Rothlin, chief executive officer of the Port of Bremerton, told the Port Orchard City Council that the port is advancing several large infrastructure and economic-development projects, led by a $16,000,000 plan to replace the Port Orchard Marina breakwater and concurrent airport and industrial-park work.

Why it matters: The breakwater shields the Port Orchard Marina and its boat slips; port leaders told the council the structure is beyond its expected lifespan and that failure could shut the marina, which the port estimates brings roughly $16,000,000 in annual economic activity to the Port Orchard area. Federal, state and regional grants will cover most of the replacement cost, reducing the direct burden on the port.

Rothlin said the port’s mission “is about increasing the economic opportunity for all of Kitsap County by generating jobs, developing infrastructure, and improving the local quality of life.” He described three lines of business for the port—marinas, the airport and industrial parks—and summarized current and planned projects across each area.

On the Port Orchard breakwater, Rothlin and Marina Director James Weaver said the existing structure (about 1,500 linear feet) has been maintained for decades but is effectively past its expected life. The replacement project is estimated at $16,000,000, with about $9,400,000 awarded as a federal grant, $5,000,000 from the state, a $1,000,000 commitment from Kitsap Transit and the remainder to be covered by the port. Permit reviews with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Marine Fisheries Service, and additional National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) work, added roughly two years to the timeline, port staff said.

Weaver told the council the port expects to put the project out to bid before year end and begin off-site construction next spring. In-water work — pilings and anchors — is scheduled to occur within the fish-window the port cited as July 15 to Feb. 15. Port staff estimated a two-year construction window and said the project should be complete by 2028. Weaver also said replacement of interior finger piers is a subsequent project now in funding and design stages.

Rothlin and Weaver gave slip counts and marina details: Bremerton Marina has about 320 slips (roughly 220 long-term and 100 guest slips) and Port Orchard Marina has about 441 slips (roughly 341 long-term and about 100 guest slips). The port described efforts to maintain parking for marina users following adjacent waterfront development; in one recent development the port retained 75 of 385 parking stalls for marina use.

On environmental work and property reuse, Rothlin described the Bay Street remediation project. The port has budgeted approximately $1,800,000 for environmental cleanup of a former gas-station site, including tank and soil removal and testing; the site will be used as a laydown yard during breakwater construction and may provide temporary parking while remediation and planning continue.

Airport and industrial projects: Rothlin said the Bremerton airport has a roughly 6,000-foot runway (the port said it could be extended to about 7,200 feet only with FAA approval), about 164 hangars, roughly 181 based aircraft and roughly 64,000 annual operations. The port reported about $20,000,000 invested in airport assets over the last decade, with about 90% of that cost funded through FAA programs and roughly 5% through state transportation funds. Planned airport work includes a south-hangar project (three corporate and 20 general aviation hangars), a Skypark industrial site on 21 acres planned for large buildings with taxiway access and a multipurpose facility (Amelia's Hangar) that contains a restaurant, pilot lounge and hangar space with charging stations.

Rothlin said Skypark and other pad-ready industrial land have attracted users including an Amazon last-mile distribution center (about 120,000 square feet, about 250 employees), Radian Aerospace test activity, and marine manufacturers. The port highlighted local marine firms — Safe Boats, Inventech Marine Solutions and Triton Marine Construction — and said companies on port property range in size and function; Inventech’s new 70,000-square-foot facility was described as supporting about 160 jobs. The port said pad-ready sites, rail access and a foreign-trade zone are advantages for industrial users.

Community and workforce programs noted included the Bremerton Aviation Center for Education, which the port said supports a youth program of about 45 students building an Xenos electric motor glider and provides scholarships for flight training. Rothlin also discussed cultural and visitor activity at the waterfront: cruise-line calls, the farmers market and the Burlington air show, which the port said grew from about 2,500 attendees in its first year to roughly 9,000 the most recent year.

Council questions and next steps: Councilmember Reiner asked how many people work for the port; Rothlin said the port employs a little over 30 people, with roughly half focused on facilities and marinas and the rest in leadership and program roles, supplemented by contracted engineering. Councilmembers pressed for a public site plan or visible signage to explain upcoming marina construction and reassure users. Rothlin said construction notices and partner coordination (including with Kitsap Transit regarding the foot ferry) are already part of planning and that the port has agreements to avoid altering the ferry route.

No formal council action on port business took place during the presentation; the council moved to an executive session later in the agenda related to a real-estate matter.

Ending: Port leaders told the council they will proceed with permitting and procurement steps this year and that construction activity on the breakwater will be staged to limit operational impacts on marina users. The port requested continued coordination with city officials on sewer and infrastructure plans that could affect longer-term airport and industrial development.