Shipyards Spring Into Action

The bustling activity of the yards in Whatcom County are evident in the lines of hauled-out vessels, with crews working full-tilt to prep, paint, repair, and finish vessels.  Seaview Boatyard is a prime example, down at Squalicum Harbor, and the Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition recently sat down with Tiel Riise, President of Seaview, to chat about what the season means for Seaview.  

Seaview has been around for over 50 years, and has been in Bellingham for just over 20.  During an average spring season, the yard will see anywhere between 600-700 vessels hauled out, with about 70 at any one time between the two locations in Bellingham.  The most utilized services include bottom painting and anode replacement, thru-hole and valve work, and final buffing/waxing.  The most difficult job for the a vessel in the yard, however, is top-coating.  "You only get one shot at it, and you need a perfect day," says Tiel.  If the conditions aren't right, or the coat isn't applied well, it means starting all over again.  

The one thing Tiel notes that Seaview could use is a better building to do indoor work, which would help with top coating and several other services.  Current buildings are older, and infrastructure inside them isn't adequate to handle all the work they'd like to do indoors. Aging infrastructure is an issue in several places around the waterfront, and one of the contributing reasons for why Bellingham and Whatcom County in general, has a shipyard capacity well below what current demand is.  While there are several projects the Port has planned, to repair and replace some of these older constructions, the county ultimately needs more yard space, and heavier lifting capacity for haul outs to service the fleets of vessels that currently call Whatcom home, but who seek service outside the county due to limitations of current waterfront infrastructure here at home.  

The biggest challenge Tiel notes, though, is still finding skilled workers.  Currently the most successful way they've found people is through word of mouth and familly, friends and colleagues.  This is a continued problem on our waterfronts that has no easy solution.  While the Marine Technician Apprenticeship Program is in full swing and will be bringing in a new group of apprentices later this year, there is no easy way to boost our available workforce soon enough to meet the demand of our growing industries.  

The Coalition launched a Job Board last year, in an attempt to aid with this and to also provide an easy way for vessel operators without an online presence, to advertise their open positions and get connected with potential crew, staff or employees. The board is free to post for Coalition members.

As the spring startup season rolls in with the April showers, the waterfront will be buzz of activity and our shipyards here in Whatcom are springing into action, ready to help with all the servicing needs they can fill. The Seaview Yard in Squalicum, the Landings at Colony Wharf, and the Blaine Shipyard all have professional services available and help keep our local owners and operators on time for their seasonal launches.

The Coalition is proud to have all three yards as members, and we wish each yard, and vessel operator hauling out this spring, a quick turn around and fair top-coating weather!