A Tacoma high school junior enrolling at Maritime|253 this fall will spend half of every school day at a waterfront facility on the Tideflats, training on nearly $2 million worth of simulators that replicate port cranes, forklifts and vessel operations.
By graduation, that student can walk away with up to 1,080 training hours, industry credentials and college credit.
The first day of classes is Wednesday, Sept. 9.
Maritime|253, a $52 million career and technical education center operated by Tacoma Public Schools, will open at 1225 Maritime Center Drive with 258 students and 13 staff members, director Kristie Wolford told The News Tribune in an Aug. 5 report. The facility was more than a decade in the planning.
"It's a dream just to be able to bring this to our students and the community as a whole," Wolford told The News Tribune.
Four pathways, two years
The program runs for two years, covering a student's junior and senior years. Enrollees choose one of four pathways: Sustainability, Technology, Port Operations and Logistics, or Advanced Maritime Manufacturing.
The center houses nine simulators. Three are built specifically for vessel operations and can reproduce weather and ocean conditions from anywhere in the world, letting students practice navigation without stepping onto the water. The remaining simulators train students on port cranes, forklifts and excavators. Associate administrator Haylie Tulupan told The News Tribune the equipment gives students access to training that some working operators never receive.
"Our students will get that opportunity before they graduate," Tulupan said.
One Technology pathway classroom holds robot dogs named Captain, Pilot and Blaze alongside dozens of drones, all used for cybersecurity instruction.
Nine districts, one governing board
Maritime|253 is a regional skills center supported by nine member districts, according to Tacoma Public Schools: Chief Leschi Schools, Clover Park, Fife, Franklin Pierce, Orting, Sumner-Bonney Lake, Tacoma Public Schools, University Place and Vashon Island. Each district's superintendent sits on the governing board, and each district is guaranteed enrollment seats. Tacoma students make up the majority of participants.
The site
The 20-acre campus sits along the Foss and Wheeler-Osgood Waterways. Construction broke ground in January 2025. To prepare the site, the Port of Tacoma removed approximately 39,000 tons of contaminated soil and pulled more than 300 creosote-treated pilings. The restored shoreline is designed to improve water quality and provide salmon habitat.
The Washington Public Ports Association honored the project with its 2026 Environmental Stewardship Award on May 21.
The Port's new business headquarters is under construction next door and expected to open in spring 2027. Port and district officials have said the proximity will help train Tacoma students for family-wage careers that keep them in the city.
How to enroll
Families can enroll at maritime253.tacomaschools.org/about/enroll or call 253-571-4567. As we reported Aug. 4, the district held an open house for families on Wednesday, Aug. 5.
