By STEPHEN L. SWANN
Port of Poulsbo
If this past Labor Day weekend is any indication, September 2015 should continue to be perfect for Liberty Bay and Poulsbo Marina activities.
MARITIME HERITAGE MUSEUM OPENING. Most readers of the Herald already know about the Poulsbo Historical Society’s new Maritime Heritage Museum on Front Street, just up from Hare & Hounds and across from Longship Marine.
Tomorrow, Sept. 12, is the official opening. Go by and check out the spectacular wall mural on the building’s north side, and then stop in for a tour. Also, kudos to the Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce, a partner sharing space with the museum, in establishing a downtown visitors information center. Remember, the Poulsbo Historical Society is funded primarily by memberships and tax-deductible donations.
FUEL SPILL IN PORT ORCHARD. First, the bad news: it was reported last week that the M/V Tango sank at Railway Marina in Port Orchard with more than 500 gallons of fuel on board. Air surveillance revealed an oil sheen extending a mile or so northeast of the marina.
If there is any good news, it is this: Tango’s moorage agreement with the Port of Poulsbo was terminated several years ago for numerous reasons.
Derelict, neglected or high-risk vessels require extensive monitoring, and often substantial taxpayer contributions for their environmental disasters.
2016 BUDGET AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. The annual budget review and adoption process has been underway in recent months, and the 2016 budget has been adopted by the Board of Commissioners.
The port’s $275,000 project list includes expensive, yet necessary, items such as a haul-out and repair of the fuel barge ($109,000) and B Dock electrical work ($76,000). The port is also planning construction of a kayak storage float (almost $17,000), which will most certainly be welcomed by the paddling community weary of frequently hauling kayaks to the marina for Liberty Bay recreation.
The 2016 wish list includes installation of rescue ladders on marina docks ($15,000) and light fixture replacements with LEDs ($24,000).
Modest rate increases for permanent moorage boaters of approximately 3 percent have been included in next year’s budget, in addition to increases in liveaboard rates.
LIVEABOARD PERMIT UPDATE. The final step in the permitting process with the City of Poulsbo has occurred — the Hearing Examiner’s hearing on for the port’s request for an additional 13 liveaboard slips.
The port has greatly appreciated the city’s exhaustive efforts in providing guidance throughout the conditional use permit process. Hopefully, the Hearing Examiner’s ruling will be published in the next few weeks.
Of significant concern by the commissioners has been the cost to the port incurred in the permit-application process. Initially estimated at more than $50,000, the final expense should be around (only!) $35,000. Several months ago, the board approved a resolution specifically mandating full recovery of this new and unbudgeted expense within two years. To that end, the liveaboard fee schedule will reflect monthly moorage charges for the 12 existing residents increased to $71.65, and a $101.42 monthly moorage fee for the 13 new liveaboard residents.
PORT UNIONIZATION. The multitude of issues leading up to finalization of a collective bargaining agreement between the port and the Teamsters union has, for the most part, been resolved. The final issue for resolution deals with employee medical coverage and plan selection, and hopefully will be resolved in the next few weeks.
AMERICAN CRUISE LINES VISITS. Connecticut-based American Cruise Lines has recently announced its 2016 tour schedule for the 205 foot M/V American Spirit. Twenty-four trips into Liberty Bay are planned to begin April 1, 2016, and continue through November. During the July-August cruise season, the ship shifts to a Seattle-Alaska schedule, and then returns to Poulsbo late August.
This year, the ship will continue, after leaving Port Townsend, to anchor Fridays at 8:30 a.m. just off Liberty Bay Marina. Approximately 100 passengers arrive at Oyster Plant Park by tender for half-day visits to Poulsbo.
PORT QUIZ. Congratulations to Robert Jungst of Kingston for his correct response to the “sally ship” nautical term last month. Robert advises that “[s]ally ship is the practice of having the ship’s company run from one side to the other in an attempt to cause the ship to roll and free itself from a muddy bottom.”
Not so common in today’s lingo is the term “ship’s husband.” This term’s derivation is nautical and is the subject of this month’s Port Quiz. Send your best guess to commissioner.swann@portofpoulsbo.com. The first response with the correct answer will be recognized in The Scuttlebutt’s next issue.
— Stephen L. Swann is a Port of Poulsbo commissioner. Contact him at commissioner.swann@portofpoulsbo.com.
