![]() “Beyond the lack of oil spills and fuel emissions, an electric boat virtually eliminates noise pollution, which is much better for marine mammals that use echolocation.” “I’m convinced that electric watercraft is the next big thing,” shared Ian. Gracey is also focused on bringing more zero-emissions electric watercraft into the commercial and government space. To make commercial and government customers more engaged from the start, he developed a solution to help them design and render a digital version of their boat before they even request a quote. Years of work in the global superyacht market left Gracey with a question: Why not extend the bespoke experience of building a big ship to the workboat world? “The City of Tacoma staff are grounded in the needs of small businesses,” Ian shared, “This area is the ideal location to serve both local and global customers.”Ĭrafting a yacht-quality workboat building experience Three months into Silverback Marine’s serendipitous move to Tacoma, the company continues to pioneer a new standard for commercial and government vessels - and attributes much of the company’s success to the city’s support. Straight away I knew this must mean something.” “My grandfather was a naval officer on the USS Block Island, which was built in the Port of Tacoma,” Ian shared, “He was here in 1942, while the build of the ship was directed within the same four walls that now make up the Earley Business Center. Gracey soon discovered a deeper significance to securing this historic location: a connection built into his DNA. “How the stars aligned I don’t know,” Ian reflected, “but the space became available.” With the help of maritime business incubator Maritime Blue, he landed on a space at the Earley Business Center in the Port of Tacoma. In May of 2021, Ian Gracey set out to find a new headquarters for his growing custom aluminum boat business, Silverback Marine. As a partner in The Northwest Seaport Alliance, the Port of Tacoma is also a major cargo gateway to Asia and Alaska.Silverback Marine Leverages Northwest Talent and Strategic location to Set a New Standard for Custom Aluminum Boats 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. ![]() The Port of Tacoma is an economic engine for South Puget Sound. ![]() To be building boats today in these same four walls is really amazing,” added Gracey. My grandfather was an officer on that ship in 1945. “We recently discovered the aircraft carrier USS Block Island was built here in WWII. 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. “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.” “It is exciting to see boat b uilding activity returning to the Tideflats, and we welcome the new business opportunities and jobs they will bring to the Port and Pierce County.” “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. They were recently awarded a contract to build an all-electric pumpout vessel for the Port of Lopez Island. 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. “Both the city and the Port of Tacoma have a proactive, forward-thinking approach, which makes Tacoma’s maritime ecosystem very attractive and sustainable.” “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. ![]() 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.
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