Please join us for One Ocean Week Seattle!

One Ocean Week Seattle brings together international delegations, industry leaders, innovators, and communities to celebrate and accelerate progress toward healthy oceans and thriving maritime economies. Through panels, showcases, cultural events, and site visits, we connect ideas and people to spark solutions for the planet’s most pressing ocean challenges.

There are many incredible events taking place throughout the week. Each has its own registration and fees vary by event. Schedule of events and registration can be found here: https://maritimeblue.org/one-ocean-week-2025/schedule/

Port of Bellingham talks
Point Roberts

The Port of Bellingham is presenting on Point Roberts economic development plans tomorrow, Thursday October 16th, 7 p.m., at the Point Roberts Community Center, during the regular meeting of the Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee.

They'll also be working on next steps with residents to further the conversation. You may check out the press release and learn more information via the link below:

Northwest fisherman Patrick Dixon shares experience and poetry

Patrick Dixon, commercial fisherman and educator. Photo: Patrick Dixon

Mending Holes

Sunday Oct 19th, 2025

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Village Books and Paper Dreams

1200 11th St. Bellingham WA 98225

Join Village Books in welcoming PNW commercial fisherman Patrick Dixon to the Readings Gallery for his newest collection of poetry, Mending Holes!

Mending Holes is a poetry collection that encompasses the author's growth, missteps and experiences as a commercial fisherman in Alaska. The fishing serves as a container for deeper issues: the danger and beauty of the sea, escaping the past, and watching what you love slip away, to name a few.

Patrick Dixon is a retired educator and commercial fisherman living in Olympia, Washington. He is on the Board of Directors of the Olympia Poetry Network. He is a past poetry editor of National Fisherman magazine's quarterly, North Pacific Focus (2010-2019). He received an Artist Trust Grant for Artists to edit Anchored in Deep Water: The FisherPoets Anthology (2014). His poetry chapbook Arc of Visibility won the 2015 Alabama State Poetry Morris Memorial Award. In June of 2023 he won the Cirque Poetry of Place competition. His memoir, Waiting to Deliver, about his 20 years gillnetting for salmon on Cook Inlet, Alaska, was published in 2022. Mending Holes, his collection of poetry about commercial fishing in Alaska was released in June from MoonPath Press.

Reserve your seat via the link below:
*Feel free to call the store for further assistance at 360-671-2626!*

Workshop helps new fisher-poets tell their story

Do you feel inspired to share your story? Patrick Dixon talks about inspiration and getting started.

The Poetry of Work:

Using Our Jobs as Source Material

Sunday Oct 19th, 2025

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Chuckanut Writers Classes

 Village Books and Paper Dreams 1200 11th St. Bellingham WA 98225

Choosing from the variety of jobs held from childhood to present day, you will access vivid memories and walk through a series of single-word or short phrase individual observations based upon the five senses and emotions. After some time spent writing, the workshop will conclude with a discussion on revision. Patrick Dixon is retired from teaching and commercial fishing. He's been writing about his fishing life for nearly 30 years and has been published widely in journals and anthologies.

Cost: $35

This class has one session on Sunday, October 19, 6:00-7:30PM at Village Books and Paper Dreams in Fairhaven.

Silfab Solar building may have future in filtration

The warehouse at 800 Cornwall Avenue was highlighted at last week's Port Commissioner meeting, with Port staff discussing the potential for water-filtration company "Pure Blue Tech" to utilize the building as they expand their operations.

The site, formerly hosting Silfab Solar, has been empty since Silfab moved to Skagit County to grow their operation.  The warehouse, built for industrial manufacturing and located close to rail lines and shipping terminal access, is uniquely fit for an operation looking to further expand, but which would also eventually out-grow the facility, Commissioners commented.

Commissioners posited that Pure Blue Tech may offer an opportunity for the Port. The proposed lease is 7 years, at which point, Pure Blue Tech may be in position to expand beyond the warehouse. The Port may be in a position to re-acquire the building at that time, thus securing its future uses for marine trades.

You may watch the Port meeting from last week via the link below:

WA Fisherman's Convention

coming December 4-8

Westport — The first-ever Washington Fishermen’s Convention is coming to Westport this winter, 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:

Participants at the Drill Instructor & Fishermen First Aid and Safety Training will practice life-saving skills.

Annual Earthquake event shakes out tomorrow

On Thursday, tomorrow, 10/16 at 10:16am, there will be a statewide test of the tsunami sirens located along the inner and outer coasts of Washington. This includes the sirens located in Squalicum Harbor and Fairhaven. The tests are part of the Great Shakeout, a worldwide earthquake preparedness drill. The tsunami sirens will be broadcast the alert wail, a different sound from the Westminster Chimes tone heard during weekly tests. Attached is the tsunami pedestrian evacuation map for Bellingham.

More information can be found at www.mil.wa.gov/tsunami. If you have any questions, please contact Port of Bellingham Security and Emergency Management at (360) 715-7398 or ryanr@portofbellingham.com

Local Master Mariner tells tale of historic achievements

Bellingham Cruise Terminal

October 30,10 a.m. - Noon

Retired Master Mariner Deborah Dempsey illuminates the history of women mariners as she shares her experiences in the merchant marine and in her recreational endeavors at sea. Using stories, photos, and memorabilia, she provides historic context for a 50-year career that includes a gender barrier-breaking string of accomplishments:

• First woman to graduate from a maritime or any service academy (Maine Maritime Academy).
• First woman to command a cargo ship on international waters.
• First woman to be licensed as master mariner in America.
• The only woman among nine ship captains to earn the U.S. Navy's Meritorious Public Service Award during the Persian Gulf War.
• The only woman to serve as a Columbia River Bar Pilot, guiding ships across the notoriously dangerous river bar.
  

Following her presentation, Dempsey is joined by Bryan Rust, Executive Director of Bellingham's Community Boating Center, which Dempsey cofounded in 2006. They describe how the BCBC serves our community with educational programs and instruction on small-watercraft operation, access, safety, and marine stewardship.

As Dempsey relates her experiences and adventures, expect to be fascinated by this inspiring slice of American feminist history. 

Registration is required. This presentation is part of the Life-Long Learning Center at Western Washington University. 

$24 for members, $32 for non-members

Master Mariner Deb Dempsey ascends a Jacobs ladder to pilot a vessel into port.

Navigator's Night on the horizon

Join us for Navigators’ Night — an evening of storytelling, community, and connection. Come hear from the voices that make this place what it is: our paddlers, our sailors, our youth and our friends.

This year, we're investing in the fleet, because as we close out another record-breaking season, it's clear the CBC has become an community staple - and we're not going anywhere. Each new hull is a promise — to ensure that Bellingham Bay remains open, welcoming, and alive for generations to come. Help us be part of that legacy as we raise the sails once more.

Past Meeting Information

YouTube Link:
Oct 7 - Board of Commissioner's Open Public Meeting

Recent Minutes Posted:
Sept 23 - Board of Commissioner's Minutes
Sept 25 - Special Work Session - Fairhaven Industrial

Waterfront Events:

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.

Navigator's Night

Nov 6th, 5-8pm - Bellingham Cruise Terminal

Join us for Navigators’ Night — an evening of storytelling, community, and connection. Come hear from the voices that make this place what it is: our paddlers, our sailors, our youth and our friends.

This year, we're investing in the fleet, because as we close out another record-breaking season, it's clear the CBC has become an community staple - and we're not going anywhere. Each new hull is a promise — to ensure that Bellingham Bay remains open, welcoming, and alive for generations to come. Help us be part of that legacy as we raise the sails once more.

WA Fisherman's Convention

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.