Pier 2 is one of the three Port-owned piers on the Columbia River. This 13-acre pier supports commercial fishing fleet via fish off-loading and fish net haul-out area. It is home to seafood processors Bornstein Seafoods and Da Yang Seafood, as well as the Oregon Responder, an oil spill response vessel owned by Marine Spill Respond Corporation.

The elevated timber dock along the Astoria Central Waterfront was built in the 1940s with cedar piling support. Over time, the upper portion of the pilings has decayed, and the seawall has deteriorated, causing the underlying support to deteriorate at an increasing rate. The last major renovation work was completed in the 1960s. Due to the current poor condition of the dock and seawall, the Oregon Department of Transportation imposed weight limit restrictions in 2017 to address safety concerns related to the aging structure.

The current condition of the deteriorating dock is not just a concern but a pressing issue that negatively impacts tenant operations and poses increasing risk to the users and warehouse structures in the vicinity. However, with the repair and maintenance of Pier 2 West, the Port can turn this challenge into an opportunity for growth and prosperity.

Rehabilitation of Pier 2 West is now a top priority for the Port, driven by urgent safety needs and the goal of sustaining seafood processing operations. Maintaining and improving the Port’s existing infrastructure to better support existing business lines and tenants is critical as seafood processing at the Port is expected to remain a core industry sector as commercial fishing remains strong. 

In 2023, the Port was awarded a $1.2 million preconstruction grant from Business Oregon and $25.3 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP). This substantial investment will support the rehabilitation and futureproofing of Pier 2, ensuring its role as a critical hub for seafood processing and regional economic growth.

09/30/2024 UPDATE

In the fall of 2023, the Port Commission selected PND Engineers to design the rehabilitation of the Pier. The project has reached the 60% design phase, and the next steps include the submission of the joint permitting application. Most recently, the Port Commission approved an environmental assessment contract with Campbell Environmental in February 2024. The project is expected to begin in-water work in the winter of 2025.