Community Impact
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Tax revenue. The total published taxable revenue
from the marine trades in Anacortes totaled $48.9 million last year. Only the construction (69.6 million) and
automotive ($66.8 million) industries brought in more money. To put this in perspective, the foodservice
and hospitality industries combined brought in $28.6 million last year. Also, note that current construction
revenues are not sustainable. Additional tax-exempt boat sales can
total $15 to $25 million annually.
Even though taxes are not collected on this amount initially, much of
it is paid back to shipyard workers, subcontractors, and local suppliers due
to the industry’s inherent high labor cost. Incidental spending by boat buyers,
owners, and charterers is more difficult to
trace. The AMTA is working to estimate
the ancillary expenditures of people who have come to Anacortes primarily for
maritime goods and services. |
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Few side effects. The marine trades are able to prosper
without significantly reducing public waterfront access. The vast majority of the private waterfront
in town belongs to homeowners, not businesses. Most marine industrial sites are located on
sheer, rocky coastline, while the sandy beaches in town have been preserved
for public enjoyment. Moreover, public
access is perfectly compatible with most future marine industrial sites. Marine trades need frequent but usually not
exclusive waterfront access. Marine trades are among the cleanest
and quietest of industries, and cleanliness continues to improve as
technology evolves. Although marine
work tends to generate some noises and occasional smells, they are well
within legal limits. The Fidalgo Bay industrial district is isolated from most
residential neighborhoods, resulting in very low nuisance issues with
townspeople. |
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World renown. The United States is second only to
Italy in large (80’+) yacht construction.
The Far East has failed to usurp marine manufacturing jobs even from
countries like Italy, Holland, England, and Germany, where labor costs are
high and land pressures are formidable.
One theory is that buyers of large yachts put a premium on reputable
brands, local labor, high skill, and attention to detail. Proximity may also be an issue: most buyers
of large yachts live in Europe or the United States. Washington State has a particularly
sound reputation for building a high-quality boat, and the customers are lining
up: shipbuilding brought in $1.45 billion statewide last year. Rich and powerful people from all over the
world choose to have their yachts built at Christensen, Delta, Nordlund, Northern Marine, or Westport. Commercial, institutional, and military
clients from Alaska to Delaware seek out Dakota Creek Shipyard here in
Anacortes. Dakota Creek’s steady local
clients include major fishing and towboat companies as well as the Washington
State ferry system. Skagit County’s high concentration of shipbuilding
expertise is equaled only in a half-dozen provinces in Europe and
Oceania. Skagit Valley College’s
marine technology program has earned national recognition for its
contribution to our workforce.
Builders of medium-sized boats abound in the Skagit Valley and along
the I-5 corridor between Bellingham and Arlington. When boatbuilders
nationwide look for jobs, many of them turn to northwest Washington. America’s fifth-richest tycoon could
have built his America’s Cup raceboats anywhere he
desired. He chose Anacortes because of
its proximity to high-tech manufacturers and efficient transportation links
(he flies completed vessels to Spain aboard a freight aircraft). |
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Good wages, many jobs. Marine trades are among the region’s
highest-paying jobs. The marine
industry pays 50% more than retail jobs and 100% more than tourism-related
jobs. Anacortes is home to 37% of Skagit
County's manufacturing jobs and 33% of Skagit County's recreation jobs. Many of these jobs depend on access to
navigable water, and Anacortes is Skagit County's only port city (Bayview has insufficient water depth and poor road
conditions). It is difficult to pinpoint the exact
number of marine-related jobs in Anacortes, but the number probably exceeds
1,200 (20% of the town's entire workforce).
Consider the fields that directly and indirectly revolve around our
working waterfront: ·
Boat design and
construction ·
Boat
maintenance, storage, and repair ·
Maritime
subcontractors and vendors ·
Chandleries;
parts and hardware stores ·
Sail and rope
makers ·
Riggers,
machinists, and technicians ·
Specially
trained installers (electronics, etc.) ·
Tugs; private
ferry and launch services ·
Charter and
tour companies ·
Commercial
fishing and seafood processing ·
Marinas and
industrial property ·
Survey, title,
and insurance companies Skagit Valley
College's Marine Maintenance Technology Program and the Center of Excellence for
Marine Manufacturing Technology are unique and powerful organizations
that help keep up with the demand for skilled workers while promoting the
region's deeply rooted strengths in the marine trades. Boat construction and service companies
need a wide range of skilled workers, creating a broad spectrum of job
opportunities for people with a variety of interests, experience, and
talents: ·
Captains ·
Carpet layers ·
Comptrollers ·
Crane operators
& heavy-lift crews ·
Designers ·
Detailers ·
Drafters ·
Electricians ·
Electronics
technicians ·
Engineers ·
Fiberglass
laminators ·
Finish
carpenters ·
Glazers ·
Hydraulics
technicians ·
Machinists ·
Mechanics ·
Painters, fairers, & finishers ·
Plumbers &
pipe fitters ·
Project
managers ·
Quality control
inspectors ·
Rough
carpenters ·
Salespeople ·
Schedulers ·
Subcontractors ·
Tile layers ·
Tool crib
attendants ·
Toolers (mold makers
& assemblers) ·
Upholsterers ·
Warehouse
personnel ·
Welders ·
Yard
maintenance crews |
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© 2006, AMTA |
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