Waterfront Wednesday News

Dec 4, 2024

NOAA Releases Employment in Coastal Inundation Areas Reports

Graphic of flood risk areas from the 2023 Whatcom County Compound Flood & Vulnerability Risk Assessment Report.

The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently published several reports that detail employment around waterfronts nationwide in areas that will be subject to coastal inundation due to tsunami & natural disaster, as well as regular sea-level rise. Included in the report for sea-level rise over the next many decades are some 2,250+ jobs in Whatcom County that will be displaced.

You can check out the spreadsheet reporting and read the report via the link below, as well as read the Whatcom County Compound Flooding & Vulnerability Risk Assessment Report:

Crew Connections Mixer Connects Jobs to Crew

Wild Seafood Connection is coming to Bellingham February 27th, 2025. The 1-day conference brings together seafood industry professionals from vessel operators and crew, to seafood processers, buyers, and even the chefs that prepare the seafood for the end-consumer. This year, Bellingham's Dockside Market is partnering with the Working Waterfront Coalition to host "Crew Connections Mixer", a chance for anyone interested in working as a crew member aboard a fishing vessel to connect with vessel operators or other professional crew, ask questions, and make the connections to start or continue their maritime career.

If you're a vessel operator, or potential crew interested in attending, join us the evening before the Wild Seafood Connection for an informal networking all-ages event. Crews in Alaska can be 16+ in age, and starting early on accrueing sea-time can be a boon to a professional career.

What: Crew Connections Mixer
When: Wednesday, February 26th, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Structure's Brewing on Holly - 601 Holly St (back room)
Who: Vessel Operators, interested crew, all ages

Please RSVP below (free) to let us know you're coming, but you can also just show up!

NW Maritime Apprenticeship Program in the News

Apprentices learn drafting techniques during one hands-on workshop. Photo: Sierra Oliver

A recent article in the Western Front highlights the work of the NW Maritime Apprenticeship Program in training marine service technicians. Reporter Hope Rasa visited one of the training courses last month to see what all the apprentices are learning. Read the article via the link below:

Compass Courses campus in Edmonds, WA. Photo: Google Maps

Compass Courses in Edmonds was recently acquired by the Maritime Institute in a deal that closed this week, bringing the mariner training and certification operation under the Maritime Institute's direction. Compass Courses has been successfully operating since 2001 and has become a staple in Puget Sound for on-the-water training and Coast Guard-approved courses for mariners.

You can read a short article on the change in ownership via the link below:

The Working Waterfront Coalition, as well as our Working Waterfront Foundation, will be attending and presenting at the upcoming National Working Waterfront Conference in San Diego, set for February 4-6, 2025.

The conference gathers individuals, organizations, businesses and government agencies from across the country to connect and share about efforts to preserve working waterfronts, infrastructure, and make our coastline economy more resilient and vibrant. There will be strong delegations from both our Whatcom County organizations along with other Washington State representation.

To learn more about the conference and the National Working Waterfront Network, follow the link below:

Foundation Outreach Coordinator Deb Granger (far left) talks about workforce development at Pacific Marine Expo. Photo: Doug Stewart

Workforce Development was a featured topic at this year's Pacific Marine Expo, among the commercial fishing industry. The Expo hosted a panel of experts from around the country who discussed various aspects, needs, and programs all aimed at building the next generation of commercial fisherman. The Coalition and Foundation's own Deb Granger was among the panelists, and the National Fisherman Magazine recently published an article that highlighted the panel discussion.

You can listen to, and read it, via the link below:

Recently, MarineLog hosted an op-ed by Senesco Marine, LLC President Ted Williams, who writes about the loss and recovery of US-based shipbuilding.

The article dives into the last 100 years of history in the industry and how legislation like the Jones Act plays into the potential solutions. You can read the Op-Ed via MarineLog in the link below: