Seafood Industrial Park

The Newport News Seafood Industrial Park (SIP) is one of the nation’s premier seafood harbors and an important part of the city’s economy. The SIP is owned by the city and managed by the city’s Harbor Master, Doreen Kopacz. It is home to a number of seafood and other water-dependent companies. It provides full-service accommodations to the seafood industry, including utility hook-ups and vessel fueling, service and repair.

Operations

The city leases land on a long-term basis to the companies located at the SIP. The companies own the facilities built on that land. Besides land rent, the city obtains revenue from its operation of the SIP from mooring fees. Land rent brings the city more than $481,000 per year and mooring fees have totaled more than $3.8 million since they were first collected in 1989. Businesses also pay real estate property taxes, vessel taxes and machinery and tool / business property taxes to the city.

SIP Facts

  • In the past decade, the SIP has averaged in the top 10 nationally for value of seafood landed.
  • Over 70 ocean-going trawlers and more than 20 inshore fishing vessels have landed seafood products at the SIP in 2015.
  • SIP comprises 39 acres, including navigable water.
  • All of the land at the SIP is completely leased.
  • Vessel moorings are leased to capacity and have been doubled up in recent years to accommodate demand.
  • Companies located at the SIP include:
    • 4 seafood processors and ancillary retail sales
    • 1 crab processor
    • 1 fuel depot
    • 2 ice plants
    • 1 boat building and repair business
    • 2 machine shops serving vessel equipment repair and fabrication needs
    • 1 marine towing company
    • 1 marine construction company
    • 1 barge company

SIP History

  • 1979 – City establishes the SIP surrounding Newport News Creek, a federally-maintained navigable waterway, and seeks federal and state funds to make improvements.
  • 1980 – City begins Phase I of the SIP bulkhead with a $1.5 million federal grant and more than $4.2 million in state funding.
  • 1982 – City begins Phase II of SIP bulkhead with a $1 million federal grant and nearly $2.7 million in state funding. Project is coordinated with I-664 construction.
  • 1992 – City begins extension of vessel mooring capacity of SIP using the I-664 wavescreen to build a mooring pier jutting into Hampton Roads Harbor.
  • 1996 – As part of the SIP expansion project, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredged the Newport News Creek outer harbor channel to 18 feet. Sand from the dredging was used to nourish beaches at King / Lincoln and Anderson Parks, saving the city $300,000.
  • 2008 – SIP has record-breaking year in mooring fee collections.
  • 2011 – Largest vessel to utilize the SIP - the 200-foot former USNS Stalwart arrives for work at Davis Boat Works for sailing through the Panama Canal, bound for the West Coast.
  • 2015 - The SIP was awarded a competitive grant of $638,292 from the Virginia Port Authority to refurbish industrial moorings within the Park.
  • 2018 - The SIP was awarded a competitive grant of $322,016 from the Virginia Port Authority to refurbish and modify infrastructure with the Park.

Newport News TV

Contact the SIP

If you have questions or would like additional information about the Seafood Industrial Park, please contact Doreen Kopacz, Port Development Administrator, via email or at 757-247-8437.
SIP Driving Map