The cover of the current Puget Sound Business Journal is “Why Maritime Gets No Respect: The city’s attempt to stop an oil rig is just the latest sign of sinking support for the industry that built Seattle.” The story (behind the pay wall) notes that

. . . dockworkers such as [Justin] Hirsch worry that Seattle will follow the path San Francisco did, forcing seagoing businesses out of the city.

“It just really feels,” Hirsch said, “like we are not the kind of workers Seattle is looking for.”

That is a shame. According to the story, the $30 billion industry directly or indirectly employs 150,000 people in Washington, and generates 35 percent of Seattle’s tax revenues. Still,

The Puget Sound maritime industry’s needs in recent years have ranked below those of arena developers, its freight corridors have gone unbuilt, and its pleas for help in labor disputes gone unanswered.

Getting a transportation package through the Legislature would help:

“Freight mobility is really key, it’s a lifeblood of the region,” said Michael Moore, vice president of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association. “I think we’re taking it for granted.”

Without the investments, shipping advocates say, Puget Sound-bound cargo can easily shift to the East Coast, Gulf Coast or Canada, which are putting billions into upgrading their ports.

“The mayor and governor need to be spokespeople for the industry. I think it’s an all-hands-on-deck mission,” Moore said. “Are we going to be a global gateway or are we going to shrink our port to a niche port?”

That’s a very good question. As the story notes,

Seattle’s connection to the maritime industry runs deep. The port was established 20 years before the city was even incorporated.

But today, Seattle is a tech town. Nearly 240,000 people are directly and indirectly employed in information-technology in Washington state. That sector, with its headline-grabbing companies and shiny new machines, draws attention away from the vital maritime businesses.

It doesn’t have to be a zero sum game. A shiny tech sector can coexist with a gritty maritime sector. Indeed, for me at least, it’s that combination that makes Seattle such a great place. And I imagine being a global gateway helps draw tech sector businesses here. By continuing to support both sectors and continually improving the general business climate, the city and state help the broader economy.