Port Orchard breakwater project slated for late summer, will include electric charging

SOUTH KITSAP — Construction to replace Port Orchard Marina's nearly 50-year-old breakwater is estimated to start in late summer or early fall and finish in 2025. By then, the new breakwater, which can be used for another 50 years, would include the ability to charge electric boats moored at the marina, according to the port.

Port of Bremerton CEO Jim Rothlin said the port was allocated $2 million from the state's transportation budget for the electrification of its Port Orchard breakwater replacement project. The port will build charging facilities for electric boats, including Kitsap Transit's electric ferry fleets in the future, to plug in.

"It'll just be more modernized," Rothlin said of the new breakwater.

The Port also got $1 million from the state's capital budget to replace the breakwater, the port announced in its commission meeting on Tuesday.

The total cost of the replacement project is approximately $15.7 million. Rothlin said the Port has secured $7.3 million: $1 million from the state's capital budget, $2 million from the state's transportation budget, $1 million from Kitsap Transit for the project's wave mitigation work, $1.3 million from Port of Bremerton's budget and $2 million from the state for the design work of the project.

The port is requesting federal grants for the rest of the $8.4 million cost, Rothlin said.

The Port Orchard Marina breakwater was built in 1974 and has passed its initial service life of about 20 years.

More: Design begins on $15.7 million Port Orchard Marina breakwater replacement project

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Work on new breakwater at Port Orchard marina set to start this summer