Information is the name of the game in the Internet world, and the Port of Tacoma has overhauled its web site www.portoftacoma.com to display just that - up-to-date port news and project development links on the homepage; shipping directories, schedules and rate request forms; real estate information; business and job opportunities- applications; port commission minutes; port publications and even a free poster of steamship stack colors for filling out an online questionnaire.
      "We've had a team of port staff from various departments working on this with our IT department, and then we went out to bid, selecting Tacoma-based Business Internet Services (BIS) to [construct] the site," said Rod Koon, the port's communications director, who spearheaded the port's website effort.
      "We wanted customers to have the latest information at the port, plus we wanted to streamline processes like providing rate request forms online," said Koon.
      Features to come, according to Koon, include monthly updates on cargo statistics, and a monthly e-mail newsletter which users will be able sign up for online. Trade data and port budget- development information are among the most frequent requests the Port of Tacoma receives, acknowledged Koon. "We're trying to build more of a dynamic site. A website is not just something you build and then not update. BIS has made the site much easier for us [to do this updating]," he said.
      Part of the ease involved in posting news and information in a time-sensitive manner is due to the port running the site through its own server, and having an in-house IT department, said Koon.
      As for other future developments at portoftacoma.com, Koon said his port is well aware of the other U.S. ports like Seattle and New York/New Jersey that are getting more involved in web-based, real-time, interactive technology. He is still unsure how deep Tacoma will get involved in the short term.
      "We need to balance the benefits (of enhanced web-based technology), and ask ourselves what are the most cost-effective ways of developing new systems."

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