Waterfront Wednesday News

Jan 31, 2024

Green Hydrogen Planning for former Alcoa Site

(Cherry Point dock. Photo courtesy NOAA)

The industrial-zoned site of the Alcoa Plant is being considered for green hydrogen development as WA state ramps up investment in alternatives to future fuels. Recently earning designation as a 'Hydrogen Hub' by the federal government, this program supports projects that promote infrastructure and technology around clean fuel initiatives.

You may read the plans in the Salish Current, from reporter Tom Banse via the link below:

Maritime Medicine with Backcountry Medical Guides

(Participants train on CPR. Photo courtesy Backcountry Medical Guides)

Whether you are spending time cruising, racing, day sailing, or offshore; Advanced First Aid/ CPR For Mariners will prepare you for your next adventure. Combining a highly experiential in-person training with their self-paced Maritime Medicine Online course, this program provides all the skills practice and knowledge needed to handle a range of medical and traumatic emergencies at sea. This class is US Sailing accredited, meets World Sailing Offshore Special Regulation (OSR 6.05) Medical Training requirements, US Sailing Senior First Aid Requirements, is valid for US Coast Guard Merchant Mariner credentials, and can be used to re-certify a Wilderness First Responder certificate within its grace period.

Class will be held in Squalicum Harbor in partnership with NW Explorations, an adventure yacht company, to provide participants hands-on practice on board a variety of boats.

Tide to Table Tickets On Sale!

Call for Commercial Fishing Families - Eat Local First Trade Meeting

Sustainable Connections is looking for commercial fishing families to participate in the Eat Local First Trade Meeting. Are you a commercial fisherman in Whatcom Ccounty? Sustainable Connections wants to hear from you at the event. This is your chance to connect with chefs, retailers, and others regarding what it takes to begin to sell your catch directly to the buyer - be it restaurants, retailers, or the public. You're invited to attend, ask your questions, network, and get information!

Please reach out to Jess at jessicam@sustainableconnections.org if you are a commercial fishing family and want to participate, or have any questions.  Learn more and purchase tickets via the link below:

Improvements Underway for Bellingham Shipping Terminal

(Bellingham Shipping Terminal. Currently, vessels must stand-off 15-20 feet due to draft constriction - see the orange floats next to the wharf. This makes loading more time-consuming and difficult. Upcoming changes will deepen the channel and clean contaminated sediment, allowing vessels to properly dock at the wharf. Photo: Port of Bellingham)

The Dept. of Ecology and the Port of Bellingham are working together to begin a series of improvements to the Bellingham Shipping Terminal beginning this week. The project will include many different parts, such as dredging, clearing contaminated GP Mill sediment, and reinforcing the wharf and pier to allow better use of the loading crane, and more access for a wider variety of vessel traffic and cargo.

This will allow the Shipping Terminal to load ships more efficiently, and faster. It will also improve stormwater containment, and allow vessels to raft properly against the wharf when they are docked, which is currently difficult due to the draft of the channel. The Shipping Terminal is ramping up activity for the first time in decades, and the Port is set to secure much-needed revenue from the various planned operations. 

The Shipping Terminal is also part of the Marine Highway System of the west coast, extending from San Diego, CA all the way to our local waterfront. This federal initiative helps to fund the improvement projects as a national effort to keep shipping terminals and ports open and accessible for both reduction of highway traffc trade and national security. Seaborne transport cuts emissions by half of what freight-rail transport would emit, and is 9 times less emissive than highway-bound semi-trailer transport. The Port is looking to increase traffic at the terminal, with several individual contracts planned looking to reduce hundreds of truck loads from traveling Interstate 5.

As we move to cut our carbon emissions and use more efficient forms of transportation, these improvements to the shipping terminal and the uses they will allow are part of a comprehensive and intentional plan by the City and Port to ensure the region keeps up with the increased interest
in our region in an environmentally responsible way.

Northwest Maritime Apprenticeship Program

Achieves Permanent Status from State

(Apprentices showcasing their projects. Photo: Sierra Oliver)

On January 18th, 2024, two representatives of the Northwest Maritime Apprenticeship attended the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council (WSATC) quarterly meeting at the Labor and Industries headquarters in Olympia, Washington.

All new registered apprenticeships are given a 'provisional' status until an apprentice has been participating in the program for a minimum of one year. The Northwest Maritime Apprenticeship, a four-year registered apprenticeship training Marine Service Technicians launched in October 2022, received official 'permanent' status approved by the WSTAC at this quarterly meeting.

Having permanent status, the Northwest Maritime Apprenticeship is eligible for more opportunities including the WA Grant for Apprenticeships. Once approved by the Washington Student Achievement Council, this grant will offer financial aid to current and incoming apprentices through a federal program, ANEW. Also, former military personnel are eligible for Veteran’s Aid while enrolled in this Apprenticeship program.

Sierra Oliver, Program Director, and Deb Granger, Outreach Coordinator, have been working diligently to develop this training program and to spread the word and involve the Whatcom Working Waterfront community. The Northwest Maritime Apprenticeship provides comprehensive training on vessel repair, maintenance, installations, design, and building. Our classes are taught by Subject Matter Experts within the maritime industry with years of experience in a specific discipline. With 21 Instructors, 7 companies in Skagit and Whatcom Counties, we are grateful to all involved for supporting this start-up workforce training program.

We invite interested employers, employees, instructors and supporters to reach out for more information about the program and how to get involved. For more information, contact info@waterfrontfoundation.org.

Through Tragedy, Community Pulls Together

(Trucks respond to the fire in Ilwaco. Photo posted on a GoFundMe page from Ilwaco Tuna Club)

On January 22, just over a week ago, the Ilwaco WA waterfront experienced a devastating fire that destroyed 3000 commercial crab pots and a receiving dock for landing crab catches. The facility, owned by long-time Coalition member Bornstein Seafoods, was just preparing for the start of the Dungeness crab season off the Washington coast. The Washington coast crab fishery was worth over 60 million dollars last year and a good portion of that is landed in Ilwaco. The whole lower Columbia River community, including Ilwaco, Long Beach, Chinook WA and Astoria and Warrenton Oregon has stepped up to help affected fishermen pay for and outfit their pot gear for the Feb. 1 start. You can donate to the GoFundMe site to help the fishing families rebuild pots, and it has raised over $100,000 in just the last week. Bornstein Seafoods is doing all it can to assist its fishermen as well.

The outpouring of support for these crab fishermen, for the infrastructure, and for delivering and processing this crab has been inspirational and a true testament to the commercial fishing community. 

You can read about the fire and the community response via Oregon Public Broadcasting below:

Find or List a Waterfront Job

The Coalition Job Board lists waterfront jobs for anyone seeking a job in the marine trades, maritime and at-sea posts, and other supporting industries.

Are you a commercial fishing family with need for crew for the season? List your job quickly and easily with our submission form. Your job is posted in 15 minutes, with no need to contact the Coalition - just enter the details and contact information and submit! Posting a job online has never been easier.

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