The bulk cargo ship Astoria Bay moored to Port of Port Angeles Terminal No. 3 early Wednesday evening.
The 609-foot-long vessel made her way to Port Angeles from Longview, where she had taken on a partial load of logs.
While she’s in Port Angeles, longshoremen will complete the loading of the vessel with logs from Merrill & Ring’s inventory of logs harvested from private lands in Western Washington.
Astoria Bay — formerly known as Dry Beam — is scheduled to depart Port Angeles on Monday with her cargo of debarked logs for China.
The 12th boat
Midday on Thursday, I was at the harbormaster’s office in Port Angeles making a pest of myself when John Pluard of Port Angeles towed his most recent creation to the marina.
It is a 10-foot wooden boat that he, family and friends built that is named Tug 12 and painted in Seahawks colors.
John said they still need to install windows in Tug 12, and when the project is complete, the plan is to auction the boat off and donate the proceeds to Seattle Children’s Hospital.
TugBoat Life
Speaking of tugboats, Capt. Gerald Bell, known to his many friends in Port Angeles and Sequim as Jerry, recently published a memoir of his adventures in the tugboat industry titled TugBoat Life.
Five decades of tugboat living is sure to be an interesting read. I understand that Capt. Bell sailed in and out of Port Angeles for many years, and my guess is that the city receives more than a passing mention in the book.
‘Shave and a haircut’
Platypus Marine, the full-service shipyard, yacht-repair facility and steel-boat manufacturer on Marine Drive in Port Angeles, hauled out Mixer, a 104-foot Nordlund, for a shave and a haircut this week, which is industry jargon meaning the vessel will have her bottom cleaned and painted.
On Thursday afternoon, Platypus also hauled out Rebecca Ann, a 52-foot William Garden-designed wooden yacht that hails from Vashon Island.
I understand the yacht was moored at John Wayne Marina, where she started taking on water, and came to Platypus for repairs.
On Wednesday, Platypus hauled out Sally Fox, a 104-foot King County water taxi that provides passenger-only service from Vashon Island to Seattle.
I understand the vessel was hauled out of the water to allow the specialists in the mechanical department to fine-tune the power train and running gear.
Platypus has Pacific Raider in the Commander Building, where personnel are installing a bulbous bow, which will help with the vessel’s fuel mileage and handling.
When the work is complete, the vessel will get underway for Ventura, Calif., to fish for squid.
Bound for South Korea
On Tuesday, Tesoro Petroleum provided bunkers to Figalia Prudence, a 746-foot Grecian-flagged cargo ship that is on her way to Incheon, South Korea.
Today, Tesoro is scheduled to bunker Clipper Moon, a 672-foot liquefied petroleum gas tanker.
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David G. Sellars is a Port Angeles resident and former Navy boatswain’s mate who enjoys boats and strolling the area’s waterfronts.
Items and questions involving boating, port activities and the North Olympic Peninsula waterfronts are always welcome. Email dgsellars@hotmail.com or phone him at 360-808-3202.
