The Port of Tacoma is proud to welcome its newest tenant Silverback Marine, a full-service aluminum boat builder, who has relocated to Tacoma from their previous location in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood.

“Tacoma is an ideal location for us since it is central for our workforce, and Tacoma is very supportive of innovative companies like us,” said Ian Gracey, CEO of Silverback Marine. “Both the city and the Port of Tacoma have a proactive, forward-thinking approach, which makes Tacoma’s maritime ecosystem very attractive and sustainable.”

Silverback Marine specializes in landing crafts, skiffs, offshore boats, barges, dredges, and catamaran boats for a wide customer base that includes maritime, government, commercial, as well as pleasure craft boaters throughout the region. They were recently awarded a contract to build an all-electric pumpout vessel for the Port of Lopez Island.

“We’re happy to welcome Silverback Marine to the Port of Tacoma and look forward to them joining our family of tenants,” said Dick Marzano, Port of Tacoma commission president. “It is exciting to see boat building activity returning to the Tideflats, and we welcome the new business opportunities and jobs they will bring to the Port and Pierce County.”

“Startups and emerging small businesses play a key role in our economic development efforts,” said Jeff Robinson, City of Tacoma’s community and economic development director. “We welcome Silverback Marine to Tacoma and look forward to working with them as they grow their company here.” 

Silverback Marine’s new manufacturing space is at the Port’s Earley Business Center, a 50-acre maritime industrial park, which was the site of Todd-Pacific Shipyards during World War II.

“We recently discovered the aircraft carrier USS Block Island was built here in WWII. My grandfather was an officer on that ship in 1945. To be building boats today in these same four walls is really amazing,” added Gracey.

About the Port of Tacoma

The Port of Tacoma is an economic engine for South Puget Sound. More than 29,000 jobs are generated by port activity, which also provides $195 million per year in state and local taxes to support education, roads and police and fire protection for our community. As a partner in The Northwest Seaport Alliance, the Port of Tacoma is also a major cargo gateway to Asia and Alaska.