The Liveaboard Agreement with the Port of Seattle was first established in 2007 by the diligent efforts of some long time liveaboards at Shilshole.  This was a 10 yr agreement, with a 5 yr option to amend.  In 2012 the Port of Seattle exercised this option. The Shilshole Liveaboard Assoc. and the Port spent about 7 months in meetings and negotiations to reach a mutually acceptable agreement that both parties could abide by, recognizing that the Port needs and appreciates Liveaboards and that Liveaboards have a right to live on their recreational boats but also have an obligation to their marina and community.

The following is from the Port of Seattle Shilshole Splash-November 2017 edition:

“Earlier this year (2017), the Shilshole Liveaboard Association Officers met with Maritime Director Lindsay Pulsifer and Recreational Boating Director Tracy McKendry to discuss the expiring 2012 Liveaboard Agreement. The group decided on a new approach to determining the annual liveaboard fees which will benefit both parties. Instead of listing the rates for the next five years in the Liveaboard Agreement, the mechanism for rate adjustments is being placed in Tariff #6, the official Port of Seattle document for rates.

There will continue to be two categories of liveaboards until the new restrooms are accessible to marina customers. Please see the table below to review how these categories will merge together over the next few years. (The rates listed include the leasehold tax.) Once the new restrooms are completed, new rates will be determined annually by applying the Seattle/Tacoma/Bremerton Consumer Price Index (CPI) rate.

Every five years, the Port will conduct a liveaboard rate study to ensure rates remain competitive within the market. Please contact the marina office if you would like more information on the agreed-upon rate study approach.

In addition to rates, the former Liveaboard Agreement contained language that described a “Spirit of Cooperation” between the liveaboard community and the Port. This language has been moved to the Authorization to Liveaboard document, which will be in effect January 1, 2018.

Thank you to the Shilshole Liveaboard Association officers for their time and participation in this process!”

Tariff: Moorage Tariff No. 6 | Port of Seattle (portseattle.org)