The Port of Olympia, which has seen sizable growth in revenue and ship calls throughout this year, was named the Washington Public Ports Association’s 2013 Port of the Year during WPPA’s annual meeting in Tacoma on Nov. 22.
The port’s 2013 revenues are estimated at $12 million, representing a 20 percent increase over 2012 and a 25 percent increase over 2011, all of which were historic highs.
Revenues for the six months ending June 30, 2013 were $6.4 million.
Operating income before depreciation for the six months ending June 30, 2013 was $1.4 million.
For the calendar year 2013, the port estimates it will see a total of 36 vessels and three barges, up significantly from the 15 full vessels and five partially filled vessels it saw during 2012.
Manpower hours were also up significantly during the year. In 2012, longshore workers received a total of 23,002 hours, but that number has risen to 48,262 hours so far this year, according to data.
Olympia operates the largest break-bulk proppant port on the West Coast and the second-largest log export terminal in the Pacific Northwest. Proppant is treated sand or ceramic material used during the process of hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking.
The award is chosen annually by a committee comprised of five port commissioners from the 69 public seaports WPPA represents, and one port director.