Waterfront Wednesday Jan 7, 2026
Waterfront Wednesday News
January 7, 2026
Commissioner Carly James
sworn in
Commissioner Carly James was officially sworn in at the Port Commissioner's open public meeting yesterday evening, alongside incumbent Commissioner Michael Shepard, who is now seeking a State senate seat.
Commissioner James is now the second woman to hold a commissioner seat in the Port of Bellingham's history, and marks the first new commissioner on the commission in many years.
Ken Bell, the previous commissioner for that seat, gave a hearty endorsement of Commissioner James in the public comment portion of the meeting. "She's really done her homework," he shared, "and the Port is in good hands."
Commissioner James was sworn in to the Port of Bellingham Commission on Jan. 6th at the open public meeting. Photo: Dan Tucker
Blaine marina. Photo: Port of Bellingham
Lack of fuel dock in Blaine
fuels
conversations
Blaine has long lacked a commercial fuel dock for commercial fishing, and recreational vessels to fuel. During November & December, the conversation was brought up once more to the Port of Bellingham Commissioners by commercial operators. The Western Front (a student-managed newspaper from WWU), reported on the ongoing conversations.
Granary
building listed
for sale by Harcourt
Troubled developer Harcourt has listed the Granary Building in Bellingham's downtown for sale last month.
The building, originally sold to Harcourt for $200,000, is currently listed around $11 Million.
Cascadia Daily News reports on the listing below.
The Granary building. Photo: WA Trust for Historical Preservation
The tug Lindsey Foss, from Foss Maritime, escorts a ship into Bellingham Shipping Terminal. The Lindsey Foss uses MGO - Marine Gas Oil - a lower-sulfur, lower-emissions gas oil than standard diesel. Going forward, many tugs are converting to all-electric, LNG, or even hydrogen power. While the technology catches on, however, many existing tugs are converting to more emissions friendly, more sustainably sourced fuel oils, and Ports around Puget Sound are starting to make those fuels more available. Photo: Foss Maritime
Alternative fuels in Puget Sound shipping are already here
Seattle Port Commissioner Fred Felleman had a discussion with reporter Tom Banse, which Salish Current carried recently, about the current and upcoming trends with alternative fuels in commercial shipping.
The commercial shipping world is in the midst of the largest transition of fuels and technology since the transition from sail to steam at the turn of the 20th century. Where once a single fuel type would power every over-water operation, the logistics of the future will involve different methods of power and different fuels for differing scopes of operation.
Here in Bellingham, All-American Marine is laying keels for the next generation of ferry vessels up and down the coast.
Read about the conversation and All-American's projects via the links below:
Marine Carbon-Sequestration needs study prior to scaling
A recent article in Maritime Executive relates the ongoing study of marine carbon sequestration technology, and one group that feels the technology still needs study prior to scaling it commercially.
Several tests around the world have occurred in recent years, and the Coalition has previously reported on the Fishery Friendly Climate Action campaign's Sarah Schumann, who recently observed a test in Maine as a consultant to commercial fishing for impacts from the test.
This new technology and its promises are currently undergoing rigorous debate as the world races to mitigate the impacts of ocean acidification. Read more from the Maritime Executive below:
mCDR test observed by commercial fishermen on the east coast this last year. Photo: Sarah Schumann, Fishery Friendly Climate Action
Crew Connections
coming in February
If you're a commercial fisherman looking for crew or you're a prospective crew looking for a new gig, mark your calendars for the
Crew Connections on February 25, 2026.
The following day, February 26, the annual
Wild Seafood Connection (opportunity for commercial fishing families to learn about marketing their products directly to the consumer) happens in Bellingham.
Hosted at Structure's Brewing - Holly St, at 5:30 p.m., Crew Connections is an informal social mixer designed to connect Captains, Operators, and Crew for the upcoming commercial fishing seasons.
Representatives from WA Sea Grant, Alaska Longliner Fisherman's Association, Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association, and local company Northline Seafoods will join as well as several commercial fishing operations captains who are looking for Crew Members. WA Sea Grant will give a short presentation on what questions prospective crew and captains should seek to learn.
Whether you're a captain looking for crew, veteran crew looking for your next boat, or a new crew looking for your first,
Crew Connections is your ticket.
*If you are a commercial Captain or Operator who is interested to attend, please register to let us know you're coming if possible.
Shellfish is for lovers
Extend your Chocolate Walk experience with something delicious. The Fairhaven Association is partnering with Bellingham Seafeast to host a special event at Next Chapter Café in Village Books this coming Valentine's Day weekend - look for more details coming soon at Next Chapter Cafe Events or Bellingham Seafeast!
Join Cynthia Nims for a mouthwatering journey into the world of essential shellfish recipes, perfect for seafood enthusiasts of all levels!
Check out the details here: Cynthia Nims- Essential Shellfish Cookbook Collection - Fairhaven Association
Author Cynthia Nims shares shellfish recipes with her new book. Photo: Village Books
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
Port of Bellingham Agenda Center (check here for updated agendas)
Upcoming Meetings:
January 20th - Board of Commissioners Open Public Meeting
February 3rd - Board of Commissioners Open Public Meeting
February 17th - Board of Commissioners Open Public Meeting
February 24th - Board of Commissioners Work Study
February 26th - Board of Commissioners Work Study
Past Meeting Information
YouTube Link:
Jan 6 - Board of Commissioner's Open Public Meeting
Dec 16 - Board of Commissioner's Open Public Meeting
Recent Minutes Posted:
Nov 18 - Board of Commissioner's Minutes
Want to get the highlights from each meeting on our maritime trades and marine-related topics? Join the Coalition as a member to get access to Commissioner meeting briefs, available on the member page of our website! Join us and add your voice to the waterfront discussion HERE.
Upcoming Waterfront & Coalition Events
Waterfront Events:
Lumen Field Event Center, Jan 30 - Feb 7
Whether you’re a seasoned sailor, a curious newcomer, or simply someone who loves the water, the Seattle Boat Show invites you to immerse yourself in the world of boating, fostering connections and a shared passion for the open seas. All ages are welcome at the Seattle Boat Show, so bring your friends or family and see the show!
Maritime Lobbying Day
Olympia , Feb 5th
The annual Maritime Lobbying Day occurs on Feb. 5th, with the WA Maritime Federation leading delegations of maritime stakeholders in meeting with legislators from around the state to promote the benefits and vitality of our maritime economy, and issues that are important to them. The Coalition annually attends this event to advocate and interface on behalf of our members.
Strucutres Brewing - Holly St, Feb 25th
Join Bellingham's Dockside Market and the Working Waterfront Coalition for a special event in coordination with Wild Seafood Connection. Are you a vessel operator looking for crew? Are you someone interested in having an adventure aboard a wild-seafood fishing vessel? This event will be your connection to meet and greet vessel operators, potential crew, and other industry professionals that can help connect you to opportunities and poeple in the wild-caught seafood industry. There will be a short presentation on what it's like to be crew, and you'll have open time to mingle and meet operators, crew, and others with insight in the industry. Hosted at Structure's Brewing on Holly St, in the back room - this event is all ages friendly. We encourage anyone over the age of 16 who is interested in these opportunities to come and learn!
This event is free - but please
RSVP to help us plan and let us know you're coming!
Holiday Inn Bellingham, Feb 26th
WILD SEAFOOD CONNECTION is a one-day conference aimed at the independent commercial fisherman who wants to learn about marketing and direct marketing to restaurants, retailers, brokers and seafood buyers.
- Hear from restaurants and retailers, brokers and seafood buyers about what they need from you.
- Hear from your colleagues about their business through small business case studies.
- Learn how to get your high-quality product to market.
- Learn about funding sources for business operations, new equipment, vessel repowers and new construction. State and federal sources, as well as private lending will be discussed.
- Valuable one-on-one round-table discussions with shipyards, direct marketers, funding experts and colleagues.
Coalition Events:
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.
This newsletter sponsored by:
Alta-Gas
Premera
Copyright 2025 Waterfront Wednesdays by Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition
Waterfront Wednesday is a publication
of the Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition.
www.whatcomworkingwaterfront.org
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Drop us a line and tell us about it.
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