portofbellingham – Pacific Maritime Magazine

03 Sep

Port of Bellingham Secures $17.9 Million Terminal-to-Rail Reconnection Grant

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsbnsf, portofbellingham, raise

An effort to reconnect the Bellingham Shipping Terminal to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe main line has received a major financial boost from the federal government. The Port of Bellingham announced Aug. 15 that it has received $17.9 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the project. The funding comes from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Program, created in 2009 by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Bellingham secured the biggest share of this year’s RAISE total award of $48.4 million. “The new rail connection will create jobs, reduce carbon emissions…

09 Apr

Port of Bellingham Terminates Lease with ABC Recycling

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsabcrecycling, bellinghamshippingterminal, portofbellingham

The Port of Bellingham has ended its lease agreement with ABC Recycling, citing “ongoing concerns about ABC’s ability to comply with the terms of their lease, especially environmental standards,” the port announced March 25. “We are unhappy to lose any employer which supports union labor and family-wage jobs,” Port Executive Director Rob Fix said. “But metal is a challenging cargo which requires expensive engineering controls to protect water quality. While ending a lease is never an easy decision, safeguarding the environment will always remain our top priority.” The company, which began operating at the port in June 2022, had expected…

21 Mar

Port of Bellingham to Host Marine Trades Job Fair

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsjobfair, marinetrades, portofbellingham

The Port of Bellingham has announced the return of its Marine Trades Job Fair, set to take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 4 at Fishermen’s Pavilion. Those participating in the job fair include the Alaska Marine Highway System, San Juan Sailing, LFS Marine & Outdoor, Phoenix Processor LP, Turn Point Marine, Trident Seafoods, Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Tri-County Diesel Marine, Birdon, All American Marine, Alaskan Leader Fisheries, People AK, Seafarers International Union, Schooner Zodiac, Westwind Marine, the Working Waterfront Coalition of Whatcom County, Seaview Boatyard, Mantle Industries LLC, Northline Seafoods, and Employment Security / Worksource. “Marine trades…

07 Mar

Port of Bellingham Purchases 6-Acre Complex

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newslandpurchase, portofbellingham

In an effort to grow its industrial business, the Port of Bellingham has acquired from Fiber Glass Systems, LP a six-acre complex encompassing a half-dozen buildings with about 71,000 square feet of industrial and office area, the port announced Feb. 28. The new complex at 742 Marine Drive is less than a mile away from port land and buildings close to Squalicum Harbor. Built between 1925 and 2008, the property includes 2-ton to 4-ton hoists and 240 v/3 phase and 480 V/3 phase power, the port said. “Expanding industrial areas is a priority for the port,” Port Executive Director Rob…

17 Jan

NW Washington Disaster Grants Available for Flood-Affected Businesses

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsdisastergrants, floods, portofbellingham

Businesses affected by flooding in Northwest Washington between October 2021 and April 2022 are eligible for the Northwest Washington Disaster Grants Program, the Port of Bellingham announced Jan. 4. Businesses that experienced physical damage and economic loss from flooding may apply for the $10 million grant program. Awardees would be able to use the grants to cover inventory loss, building damage, loss of revenue due to closure and out-of-pocket expenses. The Washington State Department of Commerce is partnering with Integrated Program Administration platform FORWARD and local community groups to accept applications. “Many businesses in Whatcom County are still being impacted…

10 Jan

Shepard Named Port of Bellingham Board President

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsportcommission, portofbellingham

Port of Bellingham Commissioner Michael Shepard will lead the three-member Board of Commissioners as its president for 2023, the port announced Jan. 3. Shepard, who represents District 1’s South Whatcom County, is a Research Associate at Western Washington University's Center for Pacific Northwest Studies and is an adjunct lecturer teaching environmental studies, anthropology and cultural sustainability at Goucher College, a private liberal arts school in Maryland, according to his bio. “Commissioner Shepard is a trustee for the Kulshan Community Land Trust and has worked on a broad range of issues important to the Port of Bellingham including workforce development, marine…

04 Nov

Port of Bellingham Reopens Little Squalicum Beach Park

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal OperationsLittleSqualicumBeachPark, portofbellingham

After a significant beach improvement project, Little Squalicum Beach Park has been reopened, the Port of Bellingham announced Oct. 27. The work encompassed removing from the shoreline about 7,000 tons of industrial fill, wood waste and concrete and planting more than 400 native plants and trees. The beach park at 2929 Roeder Ave. is part of “a high-priority habitat restoration area” identified by the Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot, which brings together 14 federal, state, local and tribal agencies on efforts “to restore habitat, clean-up historic contamination, control pollution sources and revitalize under-utilized waterfront properties.” One effort involves re-establishing lost habitat…

14 Jun

Clean Energy Factory to Open at Port of Bellingham

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online News, Terminal Operationscorvusenergy, portofbellingham

Corvus Energy, a supplier of marine-related battery energy storage systems, is expanding its U.S. operations and opening a new factory at the Port of Bellingham, port officials revealed in late May. The announcement was more than three years in the making. It began with a partnership with Corvus Energy and the port and several delegations to Norway to reach out to government officials and organizations. Among the delegates was Don Goldberg, the director of the port’s Economic Development Division who was instrumental in recruiting Corvus to Whatcom County. "Support from the Port of Bellingham in identifying a location was outstanding,…