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2620 N Harbor Loop #26
Bellingham, WA 98225
Waterfront Wednesday Feb 26, 2025
Waterfront Wednesday News
February 26, 2025
'Mosquito Fleet Act' in WA House Legislature
Fast ferries from Kitsap Transit already connect the peninsula to Seattle. Photo: Kitsap Transit
House Bill 1923 is currently in committee at the WA State Legislature. What is being dubbed 'The Mosquito Fleet Act' intends to bring more passenger-only ferry infrastructure, routing, and vessels to Puget Sound in an attempt to alleviate congestion on the main highways and ferries.
The act seeks to create and designate 'passenger-only ferry districts', through which the state could then offer passenger-only ferry grants to entities that seek to provide services within those districts. Grants would help with vessel procurement, infrastructure, and organization.
The measure would greatly expand fast ferry services across the sound. The Coalition is following the bill as it makes way through the legislative session. Learn more at the link below.
Department of Ecology hosts walk-through of Fairhaven clean up site
The Fairhaven Shipyard on Harris. Photo: Port of Bellingham
The Port of Bellingham and the Dept. of Ecology are beginning the clean-up project at the shipyard and marine industrial site in Fairhaven at the end of Harris Avenue. The project will begin the first phase of clean-up later this year. The $27 million project seeks to remove soil from 5 acres of the site in the first phase, and another 5 acres in the second phase beginning in 2027.
The Port of Bellingham will be eligible for some reimbursement costs through state programs. Read more about it from a recent article in the Bellingham Herald:
Public Comment Period Open
The Department of Ecology has opened public comments for the project beginning Monday, Feb. 10th and continuing through March 12th. The comment period is part of the consent decree with the Port of Bellingham and we encourage anyone interested or following the projects happening around Bellingham Bay (twelve clean-up sites in total) to review and comment on the plans presented.
To leave a comment or review of the plan, follow the link below:
Public Walking Tour Scheduled
RE-Sources, along with the Port of Bellingham and the Dept of Ecology, is hosting a free walking tour of the site today, February 26th, at 12 p.m. at the site (201 Harris Avenue). The Port and Dept. of Ecology will detail the project's scope and answer questions on the plan. The public is encouraged to attend.
More details can be found on RE-Sources website: Harris Shipyard Clean Up Walking Tour
Hybrid Propulsion starting to shift in US Ferry sector
Governor Inslee attended a gathering in 2022 showcasing the Sea Change, the world's first Hydrogen-only powered ferry, built by All-American Marine in Bellingham. Photo: All-American Marine
More and more ferry systems in the United States are beginning to shift towards hybrid or electric propulsion, as WorkBoat.com reports.
Gig Harbor Boat Shop trains boat crew
Purse Seine Crew Member Training Programs offered through the Gig Harbor Boat School will happen April 22 - 25. Learn basic skills and gain a better understanding of what life aboard a Purse Seine vessel in Alaska is like. Skills taught include navigation, line handling, safety training courses, as well as USCG certified Sea Safety and Survival, net mending, and more.
Register by contacting Gig Harbor Boat School at 253-857-9344, or via the link below:
Tide to Table Tickets, Sponsorships Available
The Coalition's annual Tide to Table dinner is happening April 26th at the Hotel Bellwether Ballroom, and tickets are now on sale! The dinner is our celebration of the Salish Sea and all it brings us with a seafood buffet, live and silent auction, and lots of good camaraderie and fun. Join us for this fun night with your best trackside derby outfits. Big hats, garden-party attire, and mint juleps are all in season as our salmon race for the roses with our Kentucky Derby theme this year.
Tickets will be on sale through April 18th - so get your tickets today via the link below!
*Early Bird Ticket Pricing will last through March 10th*.
Early-bird
Ticket prices are $95/individual, or save and purchase a table for 8, for $680.
After March 10th, prices will be $120/individual, and $880 for a table of 8 - get yours today!
Sponsorships Available
Alta-Gas
Premera
DiMartino
All-American Marine
The Coalition would like to thank these early sponsors for their support!
Your Coalition is growing. Your partnership and support make it all possible. Sponsorship options include: 1) Tide-to-Table event sponsorship and/or 2) Coalition in general supporting the work we do to promote the economic vitality and diversity of working waterfronts here in Whatcom, and throughout the state. Please see sponsor packages are available and download the sponsor deck via the link below. If you'd like to build a custom package - reach out to our staff at Info@whatcomworkingwaterfront.org.
Donate to our Auction
Looking for other ways to help the Coalition? We invite you to donate items to our live & silent auction! If you have gifts, experiences or unique items that you'd like to go towards creating equitable economic opportunities in our region, preserving our diverse workforce, and help maintain our waterfronts working, consider donating them to our auctions for Tide to Table '25!
To donate items, experiences, or gifts, please use the form linked below, or contact our staff at Info@whatcomworkingwaterfront.org. Please send your Item submissions by April 18th. Contact us today if you'd like to be a part of the auction for this fun evening.
Are You Hiring? Use the Coalition Job Board
The Coalition's
Job Board is free, contactless, and easy! We designed this board for our commercial fishermen, marine trades industries and other waterfront jobs in mind, to act as a digital bulletin board for crew positions, contract hires, or regular employee spots that you want to have a digital space for.
If you have any questions on using it, reach out to our staff, info@whatcomworkingwaterfront.org. To submit a job posting, use the link below:
Affordable Health Benefits
for Statewide Maritime Companies
The Working Waterfront Health Trust provides affordable pooled insurance health plans for qualifying marine-trades businesses -
state-wide. The Trust launched two years ago, has grown steadily each year and provides a range of health plans to consider through Premera Blue Cross.
If you'd like to know more about the Health Trust, contact your insurance broker today and ask them about the Working Waterfront Health Trust. Fall is the peak time to meet with your broker to discuss options for your employees for 2025.
Port Commission Meetings
Port Commissioners Open Meetings are held at the Port Admin Offices and are open to the public. Check the Agenda Center (Linked on each meeting time below) for posted agendas. Agendas typically get posted a week in advance of the scheduled meeting. Two periods of public comment occur each meeting before and after the agenda items, as well as special public hearings as designated on the agendas.
Location: Port Admin Offices, 1801 Roeder Ave, Bellingham
(If agendas are not posted, links will be added later when they are)
Upcoming Waterfront & Coalition Events
Waterfront Events:
February 26, 5:30pm
Structure's Brewing - Holly St
Join Bellingham Dockside Market, the Working Waterfront Coalition, Alaska Longliner Fisherman's Association and Wild Seafood Connection for an informal meet up at Structure's Brewing, to connect our vibrant commercial fishing industry here in Whatcom to anyone interested in working on the water! Free to attend, and all ages are welcome. After the mixer, stay for a special film screening by ALFA and a celebration!
February 27th, All Day
Hosted by the Port of Bellingham at the Holiday Inn on Mitchell Drive near the airport, this one-day conference brings in commercial fishing operators, industry experts, marine trades professionals, and others to discuss wild-caught seafood industry topics and local seafood issues. If you're a commercial fisherman or woman, this event can connect you to others in the sector who are working and tackling the same questions, solutions, and discussions that you are.
March 27-28, 9:00am - 6:00pm
Bendikson Landing, South Bend, WA
Washington Sea Grant is sponsoring a two-day Skills and Drills Course for new or beginning commercial fishermen in South Bend, Washington. This course is geared towards individuals interested in learning the necessary skills to enter the commercial fishing industry. No experience is required.
Anyone ages 18 and up who is interested in gaining basic skills that may be required onboard a West Coast commercial fishing vessel.
Coalition Events:
This newsletter sponsored by:
Alta-Gas
Premera
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