Waterfront Wednesday Nov 12, 2025
Waterfront Wednesday News
October 29, 2025
The Port of Bellingham Commission, 2022. The Commission has operated with three commissioners since the Port began in the early 1900s.
Port of Bellingham
expands to 5 commissioners
The General Election on November 4th approved the ballot measure to expand the Port of Bellingham Commission to 5 seats.
Our Coalition staff has compiled a bullet-point layout of the timeline and considerations for the new commissioners and districts.
Read about the expansion via the link below:
Marine Bioluminescence with Community Boating Center
Bioluminescence is the production of light by a living organism, and beautiful spectacle of nature to behold. Join Lucy Ritter, and the Community Boating Center, as they host a chat about what it is, with examples found here in the Salish Sea.
Find more info via the link below:
Bioluminescence. Photo: Community Boating Center
Dockside Market
December Schedule
Dockside Market has a slight schedule change to be aware of this coming month (December):
Due to a scheduling conflict in the Fishermen’s Pavilion, we will have our market on Sunday, December 7th instead of Saturday, December 6th.
The rest of the schedule will remain the same, with markets on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month, year-round.
I’ll include a link to the Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1A33kbb8XR/
Port's Annual Holiday Festival coming up
[Port of Bellingham] On Dec. 6-7, The Port of Bellingham celebrates another year of Holiday Port at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal with performances by over 30 local bands, orchestras, choirs and performance groups and includes more than 700 performers. The festival includes visits and photos with Santa Claus. Port Fairhaven Fish & Chips will be open with food for purchase. And the Sugar and Spice food truck will be parked outside the Terminal serving up their delicious mini donuts.
One of the most beloved aspects of the event is the annual gingerbread contest, with all entries on display at the festival. It’s not too late to enter, the deadline to turn in an entry form is Nov. 26th. Entries don’t have to be made out of gingerbread – just visibly edible. That means graham cracker walls, fences made of pretzel sticks, and other creative uses of food are acceptable – and encouraged! A complete list of contest dates and deadlines are listed below. Ribbons will be awarded to the top three in each category. The People’s Choice voting will be open throughout the festival, and the winner will get two whale watching cruise tickets from our sponsor, San Juan Cruises!
The contest is free, and open to bakers of all ages and abilities. Many entrants choose to enter their edible structures in a silent auction that will benefit a local charity. The contest has an optional themed category, “Holiday Bloopers” for a total of 10 divisions. More information and a link to the online entry form can be found at:
Photo: Port of Bellingham
Legato Firecat Red Lager to launch at Beach Cat Brewing
Join Legato Maritime and Beach Cat Brewing on November 15th from
6-9pm for the launch of the Fire Cat Red Lager.
The brew is a collaboration that goes to support programming for workforce development through Legato Maritime and the Maritime Career Taskforce. Come out and help celebrate the Maritime Career Task Force signing, and the christening of a new outreach vessel to help with the programming, and have a pint of the new Legato Fire Cat Red.
Details:
- ALL ages welcome
- Food trucks will be there
- Gluten free snacks (couple hundred free Legato shortbread cookies)
- Live brass band
- Open Jam (ALL instruments welcomed)
Ryan Davis, Legato Maritime, stands with Gov. Ferguson at the Maritime Career Task Force signing.
WA Fisherman's Convention
coming December 4-8
Westport — The first-ever Washington Fishermen’s Convention is coming to Westport this Fall, aimed at unifying and celebrating the state’s diverse fishing industry while bringing new and prospective fishermen into the fold. The Convention will take place December 4-8, 2025. Current and aspiring fishermen can register on the Washington Sea Grant event page.
Hosted by Washington Sea Grant with funding from the Young Fishermen’s Development Act, and planned by an advisory committee of commercial fishermen, the Washington Fishermen’s Convention will bring together experienced commercial fishermen, those new to the industry, and those hoping to enter it, with something to offer everyone in the community. Fishermen can participate in whichever way makes sense for them, with up to five days of learning and networking opportunities available as well as a two-day conference and individually priced training sessions. Commercial fishermen receive a discounted price on trainings, and scholarships and industry-funded conference tickets for new fishermen are available.
“Our hope is that the Washington Fishermen’s Convention will bring together our diverse fishing sectors, different generations of fishermen, and those with decades of experience along with new fishermen for a few days of workforce development and social connection,” says Bridget Trosin, Washington Sea Grant fisheries and boating team lead. “Our commercial fishermen are an important part of Washington’s maritime culture, and we need more of them.”
Read more via the press release and info page below:
Convention offerings are as follows:
- December 4-5: Drill Instructor and Fishermen First Aid and Safety Training – U.S. Coast Guard-approved trainings to conduct drills and help to keep crews safe at sea.
- December 6-7: Washington Fishermen’s Conference – Multi-track educational and networking conference and community meals for both new and experienced fishermen. Topics include hands-on knot tying and gear repair, finance and insurance technical assistance, crew/captain matchmaking, and more.
- December 8: Sea Trial – Participants test their seaworthiness on a commercial fishing vessel.
All of the Convention’s offerings will take place in Westport, Washington at The Siren (421 Neddie Rose Dr) and McCausland Hall (2200 Nyhus St N).
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:
Nov 18th - Board of Commissioner's Open Public Meeting
Dec 9th - Board of Commissioner's Special Public Hearing - Redistricting
Dec 16th - Board of Commissioners Open Public Meeting
Past Meeting Information
YouTube Link:
Nov 4 - Board of Commissioner's Open Public Meeting
Recent Minutes Posted:
Oct 21 - 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:
Dec 6-7th - Bellingham Cruise Terminal
The Port of Bellingham celebrates another year of Holiday Port at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal with performances by over 30 local bands, orchestras, choirs and performance groups and includes more than 700 performers. The festival includes visits and photos with Santa Claus, as well as the annual Gingerbread Contest.
Dec. 4-8, Westport, WA
The Washington Fishermen’s Convention aims to unify and celebrate our state’s fishing industry, with something to offer everyone in the community. The Convention will be an up-to five-day learning and networking opportunity for both new and experienced fishermen.
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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