Hullwork - October, 2025

Hullwork - October, 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 – October 2025

The month of September saw us launch into several upcoming events, and begin our journey into 2026 with visioning, planning, and budgeting. Our fall is chock-full of events, expos, outreach, and more. These activities have me busy setting up our attendance forms, insurances, and logistics for those events, as well as coordinating and planning speakers, panels, and discussions at them.

Details:

• Attended Harbormaster’s conference in Seaside Oregon with SeaFeast to promote the partnerships of Ports and public organizations. Networked with companies on our Health Trust there.
• Helped plan and host Bellingham SeaFeast, hosting a Coalition & Foundation booth to showcase our marine trades and workforce development programs.
• Continued to help plan One-Ocean Week’s “Working Waterfront” day, in collaboration with Port of Seattle, Port of Bellingham, and other stakeholders, helping connect potential panelists and presenters that represent our maritime trades.
• Helped promote the Whatcom Vessel Turn In Program and participated in the media day and post-interviews about the success of the vessel reclamations.
• Attended the Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend to promote our Coalition and Foundation, Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship programs, and network for our Health Trust.
• Provided support and facilitated our 3^rd-quarter board meeting.
• Began our engagement on getting disclosure notices added for maritime industrial lands through the 2026 legislative session. This involved meeting with several legislators and continues with stakeholder meetings.
• Participated in further planning calls with federal legislators to arrange in-person meetings for sectors of our maritime industry here in the region, with the first being our commercial fishermen, to discuss impacts to industry and our relationship with international fishing treaties.
• Participated in the Marine Exchange of Puget Sound Annual Member Meeting (of which we are a member).
• Had an interview with Bellingham Chamber of Commerce’s Lance Calloway on KGMI Radio detailing our Coalition and the projects and vision we have for our working waterfronts.

Coming up in October, we have Blaine OysterFest, our Commissioner Candidate Forum on the 9^th, and One Ocean Week – we hope to see many of our members this coming month as we continue to get out in front of councils and commissions, legislators and our community to promote the vitality and benefits of all the work that you, our membership, do to keep our waterfronts working.

Today, October 2, we’re also participating in the Port of Bellingham’s work-study session on the Fairhaven Shipyard site and we’ll be advocating for the use of that land to benefit our trades and our maritime economy.  We were specifically invited to this session, and that is a testament to our relationship with our local Port staff that we have built and the combined voice of our membership – all of you have helped ensure that we have a seat at the table for these discussions, where your concerns are carried forward. Thank you for your support.
 
Upcoming Events: 

1. Port Commissioner Candidate Forum - Oct 9, Squalicum Boathouse
   Join the three running candidates for Port Commission as they answer questions in a moderated discussion on their vision for the waterfront's and the Port's future. This is a free event, and registration is required. Register Here
   
   
2. Blaine Oysterfest - Oct 11 - Blaine

• Don’t Miss the Food, Fun, and Festivities by the Sea on October 11th in Downtown Blaine! Get ready to experience the ultimate family-friendly celebration at the OysterFest & Seaside Bash in Blaine--by-the-Sea. This vibrant event welcomes guests from both sides of the border for a weekend packed with laughter, community, connection, and seaside fun.
• The Coalition will have a booth – stop by and say hello!

6. One-Ocean Week - Oct 20-26 - Seattle

• One Ocean Week Seattle is a region-wide, international gathering of ocean leaders, innovators, researchers, startups, policymakers, artists, educators, and communities to accelerate solutions for a sustainable, inclusive maritime future.
• The Coalition will be featured in a presentation on Port/Community collaboration, and connected local Bellingham trades stakeholders to participate in other working waterfront discussions that week.
  
  

7. Pacific Marine Expo - Nov 20-22 - Seattle

• Explore the latest gear, technology, and education for our commercial maritime and seafood industries at the annual expo in Seattle. Featuring hundreds of exhibitors, free educational workshops, and key industry panel discussions.
• The Coalition will be visiting the Expo again this year to meet new companies who may be eligible for our Health Trust and to promote our shared working waterfront vision with our friends and colleagues from all over the state.

Dan Tucker
Executive Director
Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition