Coalition Blog

Waterfront Tours w/ Kolby LaBree This week, Susan chats to our friend Kolby LaBree about the Waterfront Tours available with the Good Time Girls this summer. These tours highlight Bellingham's connection to the waterfront with unique history, mystery, and lore. Get excited to go on Shore Leave with Bellinghistory's Good Time Girls! Shore Leave Bellinghistory Tours

This week, Race Week kicks off, LFS host the 1st annual Squalicum Block Party, the Port moves 5 commissioner proposal to ballot, SeaFeast unveils feature artist Jim Dixon, Coast Guard renames districts, the Port ships chips, and a historic fireboat visits Bellingham.

Hullwork - July, 2025

This week, Dept. of Ecology opens comments for Weldcraft Steel & Marine site clean up, Northwest Seaport Alliance publishes a Maritime Economic Impact Study, the Governor selects the contract for building WA state ferries, Barlean's Fishery officially opens their Squalicum store front, Buoyant Beginnings begins,

This week, the Port of Bellingham welcomes a new Interim Director, the annual Maritime Workforce Forum is set for August 7, the Whatcom Vessel Turn-In Program is featured in Love Your Waterfront, the Working Waterfronts Act is re-introduced, and LFS announces their annual Customer Appreciation Day on July 23.

The Working Waterfront Foundation starts Buoyant Beginnings pre-apprenticeship program, the WTA expands the waterfront line, Good Time Girls and Bellinghistory offer "Shore Leave" tours, and a new Vessel Turn-in Program is coming up - Dan chats with Dana Oster from NW Straits Commission on how the program works.

Hullwork - June, 2025

This week, the Port parted ways with the Executive Director, Merchant Mariner Credentialing modernization is proposed, a free vessel turn-in program is happening in Whatcom, waterfront tours are more accessible with WTA and Bellinghistory, Whales in our Waters helps mariners, Bosun's Workshop has upcoming courses, and our Blue Drinks Q2 event is coming up!

Dan and Kevin talk big news on the Whatcom Waterfront, and Kolby LaBree shares a historical perspective on the newly refurbished Little Squalicum Pier.

This week, several sign on letters have made rounds to save funding for critical agencies and maritime organizations, NW Explorations celebrates 20 years of the Mother Goose Flotilla, Salmon Run forecasts for 2025 are out, Alaska fishermen write op-ed on NOAA services, the Port officially terminates the Master Development Agreement with the controversial developer, Harcourt, the next Blue Drinks is coming up, and our On the Waterfront print newsletter is hot off the press.

Hullwork - May, 2025

This week, MTCA funding is threatened at the state level, America's Boating Club of Bellingham hosts a Day of Learning, Tide to Table '25 gives a strong finish, Ocean Conservancy seeks support to maintain NOAA funding at the federal level, and MarineLink publishes a marine alternative fuels overview.

This week, AMSEA is under threat for termination, MERIS project is in planning, two bills cause concern in the WA legislature, the Whatcom Maritime Heritage Museum gets new hours, this week celebrates marine service professionals, and the Tide to Table auction opens!

Paul Meyer sits down with Austin Rose from the Marine Resource Committee to talk about the marine sanctuary proposals that have led to the MRC's creation, and what the MRC does here in the region.

Dan and Kevin discuss the look ahead for 2025, including a brand new event, called Race Week, coming to Bellingham in 2025. Kevin also chats about all the upcoming events for Bellingham Seafeast that you can track at www.bellinghamseafeast.org Dan discusses all the amazing excursions available to our region, and gets hyped for our upcoming summer.

This week, a regulatory freeze disrupts U.S. fisheries, A local fisher is featured in Women on the Waterfront, "The Last Reefnetters" ep. 1 is featured on Cascade PBS, Tide to Table Sponsor highlights go out to Vigilant and AltaGas/ALA Energy, The Pacific Marine Expo puts out call for speakers, Tide to Table ticket sales are going fast and close April 18th, Beach Clean Up and Bivalves events for Bellingham Seafeast happen in Blaine, and Backcountry Medical guides offers maritime first aid and CPR training.

Tide to Table Sponsor Highlight - Vigilant

Hullwork - April, 2025

AltaGas/ALA Energy Sponsor Post

This week: Northline Seafoods returns to Bristol Bay for 2025 A Pathway to Protect Working Waterfronts webinar is available to view CBC launches their new Hearing Loop programming, along with hosts Tide Talks this evening Seattle City Council votes on controversial re-zoning of transitional light-industry zone, The Puyallup Tribe sets to open their own shipping terminal in Tacoma, Green initiatives for fishermen stall with funding cuts, Island Opportunity Charters & San Juan Sailing offers summer adventures, Pacific Halibut fishery opens with uncertainty, WA Sea Grant offers FFAST Skills and Drills Beautiful Bivalves abound in Blaine

Hullwork - March edition. Tide to Table, tariffs and funding, business networking, and events planning.

This week: - Bull kelp bill passes house to designate state marine forest - Maritime Institute hosts Mariner Boot Camp - Race Week comes to Bellingham - Economic Futures Through Ports recording available to watch - "The Last Reefnetters" features local fisherwomen - Maritime Safety Days Event approaches - SE Alaskan Fisheries face misinformation and lawsuits - Tide to Table ticket sales are up!

Dan travels to the National Working Waterfront Conference in San Diego and speaks with organizations and individuals from around the nation about working waterfronts, and the efforts underway to save them.

Georgia Pacific Story, Pt. 2 with Anna Booker & Kolby LaBree Dan and Kevin chat with Kolby LaBree of Bellinghistory Good Time Girls, and Anna Booker, History Instructor with Whatcom Community College, about the Georgia Pacific plant and its effect on Bellingham and Whatcom County. Part 2 of 2.

This week, the Mosquito Fleet Act is in the WA House Legislature, Department of Ecology hosts their walkthrough of Fairhaven shipyard, and accepts comments on the clean up site, hybrid propulsion gains steam in ferries, Gig Harbor Boat Shop offers crew courses, and Tide to Table highlights our first round of sponsorships.

Dan and Kevin chat with Kolby LaBree of Bellinghistory Good Time Girls, and Anna Booker, History Instructor with Whatcom Community College, about the Georgia Pacific plant and its effect on Bellingham and Whatcom County. Part 1 of 2.

Dan and Kevin share economic news from the Port of Bellingham, and Beth Pielert, co-director of "Salmon People: Preserving a Way of Life" discusses the new film by Children of the Setting Sun.

Dan visits Pacific Marine Expo and hears from the voices on the floor.

This guest submission post from Tiel and Phil Riise of Seaview Boatyard details new improvements to the Seaview Fairhaven location, and whats next for Seaview on the horizon.

This week, the Coalition wraps the National Working Waterfront conference in San Diego, Dept. of Ecology and the Port begin the clean up operations at the Harris St. Shipyard in Fairhaven, the Ballard Locks get some long-needed maintenance, the Port releases their economic Development Progress Report, Seaview Boatyard shares a highlight of what's next for their locations in Bellingham, Tide to Table tickets go on sale, and new proposed rules for the Dungeness crab fishery are open to public review.

Hullwork - February, 2025

This week, the Working Waterfront Coalition will be attending Maritime Day, Norwegian Delegation of Blue Tech innovators visits in Seattle, Maritime WA National Heritage Area posts Advocacy Workshop online, Bellingham Seafeast Vendor Applications are open, maritime education op-ed details local efforts, Alaskan fisheries op-ed details a sea of troubles, and several important dates to save are coming up fast!

This week, Fishery Friendly Climate Action releases their research and report on conditions to transition the fishing fleets to a low carbon future, Marine Refrigeration courses come to Bellingham, the National Working Waterfront Network offers an internship opportunity, Urban Ocean Lab releases a study guide to preserving working waterfronts, Corvus Energy wins a bid to electrify another ferry system, and the FISHES Act is signed into law.

Fishery Friendly Climate Action Released their report on Transitioning to a Low Carbon Fishing Fleet this week, with strategies and details on the industry and how it can interface with changing regulation and grant opportunities, what is important to those in the industry, and what barriers to change exist for the industry.

This week, Wild Seafood Connection returns, Marine Trades impact study is released, WA Sea Grant offers skills & drills trainings, public comment sought on new hydrogen production facility, new technology pioneered by Finland company Hycamite could allow ships to produce their own fuel underway, and several upcoming 2025 dates to save are highlighted.

Coalition Staff Report for 2025 New Year.

Port of Bellingham Releases new Marine Trades Economic Impact Study

The Port of Bellingham Releases their Economic Impact Study, Maritime WA has cool merchandise for sale, and the Coalition closes out our 2024, with a look ahead.

The Working Waterfront Coalition closes out 2024 with thanks to our amazing community, members, Board and volunteers. We look forward to the coming year!

This week, NOAA releases Coastal Inundation reports for employment in flood-prone areas, Crew Connections Mixer is coming up, NW Maritime Apprenticeship Program is highlighted in the Western Front, the Maritime Institute acquires Compass Courses, the Working Waterfront Coalition heads to a national conference, MarineLog offers an op-ed on US Shipbuilding, and the Pacific Marine Expo features a panel on workforce development and the next generation of fishermen.

This week, the team visits the Marine Life Center and Bellingham Dockside Market to get highlights from two local places where you can connect directly to your waterfront.

This week, AI boosts Alaska Pollock assessments, Crew Connections Mixer connects captains to crews, NW Maritime Apprenticeship Program celebrates National Apprenticeship Month, maritime safety improves with wearable technology, WA king tides program invites public photos, Pacific Marine Expo kicks off in Seattle, the Port hosts the annual Port Holiday festival at the cruise terminal, All-American Marine partners with ABB for hybrid-electric catamaran, and the Port of Bellingham approves their 2025 Strategic Budget.

Dan sits down with Mark and Craig from Island Opportunity Charters, I-2117 fails to pass, Bellingham Seafeast wins awards, Port of Bellingham receives public comment on their budget, and Navigator's night with the CBC approaches.

This week, the F/V Alaskan Girl perseveres after a fire, an initiative affecting waterfront development fails to pass, Navigator's Night with the Community Boating Center approaches, we give a quick overview of this last Congress' working waterfront bills that we're following into a new Congress, the Port receives $1.5 million for the Clean Ports grant, commercial fisherman struggle with low pricing, the Port of Bellingham puts out RFPs for the 701/801 Roeder Avenue plot, and the Port's 2025 Strategic Budget received public comment yesterday, with another public hearing scheduled.

F/V Alaskan Girl suffered a fire on Oct 27th, and Captain Brannon Finney describes the perseverance of her crew.

This week, Paul Meyer sits down with Brian Gouran and Mike Hogan from the Port of Bellingham to discuss the ongoing clean up operations visible all around Bellingham Bay.

This week, the Port's ECAP program helps monitor the waterfront, Tacoma Blue Edge presents Digital Solutions for the maritime economy, Navigator's Night returns with Community Boating Center, US Reps Pingree & Murphy introduce bi-partisan disaster mitigation tax credits for working waterfronts, the Alaska Seafood Industry takes sharp hit in 2023, Hyundai makes an ammonia engine breakthrough, the Port's Strategic Budget for 2025 is released, and the Small Shipyard grant is at a crossroads.

The Port's Environmental Compliance Assessment Program helps to monitor and inform businesses on the waterfront regarding regulation, clean up, mitigation and their impacts. The goal is to keep tenants aware and help them be sustainable stewards of the waterfront. Sustainability Program Manager Adrienne Douglass-Scott talks about the program and what it does.

Dan hosts legislators and officials on the mainstage of Bellingham Seafeast to talk all things waterfront. Hear the challenges, and future of our waterfront development from the folks involved in policy and planning around it.