Hullwork - December, 2025

Hullwork - December, 2025

Hullwork is a monthly digest from the Coalition's Executive Director on the work that goes on 'beneath the waterline'  of our programming to maintain it, and keep it all afloat.

Fresh planking along the hull of a ship in Seaview North Shipyard. Work completed by Dave Hartford. Photo: Dan Tucker

Hullwork – December, 2025

This last month of November saw a busy wrap on several events, and we began 2026 planning in earnest as we prepare for another year of advocacy, engagement, and promoting our working waterfronts.

To our members, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks. This year has been challenging, busy, and there has been a lot of growth that both our Coalition and Foundation have seen. Your voices, inputs, insights, and involvement have been key parts of us being able to achieve so much this year. For attending our events, reading our emails, reaching out to chat with us and visiting our offices – thank you. We look forward to seeing you all, and hearing from you, in 2026.

To sum up our busy November, here are a few highlights and some upcoming events to keep in mind:

•  Participated in an ongoing ‘coalition of coalitions’ led by Bellingham Chamber of Commerce to network with other aligned organizations in economic development in Whatcom County
• Met with local industry leaders to stakeholder and review disclosure notices
• Met with state legislators and county/city legislators
• Helped draft County language with county councilmembers
• Participated in a Port of Bellingham work-study day at Fairhaven regarding the Fairhaven shipyard and cruise terminal, providing key insight and testimony on ideas
• Participated, and was a key organization in planning One Ocean Week’s “Working Waterfronts” day in Seattle, giving a keynote address as well as paneling on working infrastructure for shoreside industry.
• Helped coordinate responses to federal inquiries on ongoing tariff impacts and connect federal legislators to businesses in Whatcom that could provide insight
• Presented at another Bellingham-based Rotary club on our Coalition and mission
• Attended the Economic Forecast Breakfast for Maritime at the Pacific Marine Expo, as well as attended the floor all three days to make connections, promote our health trust, and strengthen our network.

Upcoming Activities:

• Planning for Tide to Table ’26 got underway, with venue and menu discussions
• Planning for upcoming pint nights, Blue Drinks, Holiday Socials, and our last quarter Board meeting, as well as Annual Meeting
• Building messaging and implementing systems to start updating our membership rates and structure are underway
• We’re now planning a brand-new Maritime Trades Job Fair in partnership with the WA State ESD and Port of Bellingham to be open to the public. This will happen Feb. 25^th, and will complement the later-season career exploration fair, which is aimed at High School Students, specifically.

Upcoming Events

• December 6^th – (this Saturday!) – 3-6pm – Menace Brewing. Seafood Producer’s Cooperative and Menace Brewing launch the ‘Collaborator’ beer, benefitting the Coalition. Live jazz at 4pm, come have a drink and toast to the collaborations, and beer, that build boats and community!
• December 10^th – 3:00pm – Board of Director’s Q4 Meeting, 708 Coho Way
• December 10^th – 5:30pm – Deep Blue Drinks Members’ Holiday Social. Join us for this potluck immediately following our Q4 board meeting! All members are encouraged to attend, and feel free to bring your favorite shareable or drink. Come connect, learn, and share with other members and our Board and staff.
• December 29^th – 5:30pm, Blue Drinks, Stone’s Throw Brewing. Join us for our last regular Blue Drinks of 2025! Hosted by Stones Throw Brewing with their ‘Good Neighbor Night’ program, 10% of proceeds from the evening will be donated to us, so come celebrate the holiday season and a successful 2025 with us as we ring in 2026!
  

Dan Tucker
Executive Director
Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition