"With the world's largest tugboat races, boat building and survival suit contests, maritime poetry slam, demonstrations, Chowder Cook-Off and a container ship full of free family fun, the Downtown Seattle Waterfront is the place to be for the annual Seattle Maritime Festival, May 7-9, 2009."
 

SEATTLE, WA, March 28, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Thrill to the power of the world's biggest tugboat races! Enjoy the Waterfront Chowder Cook-Off. Don't miss survival suit races, a boat building competition, vessel tours, sea-air rescue demonstration, kid's events, Stories of the Sea, and a container ship full of family fun.

The Downtown Seattle Waterfront is the place to be for the annual Seattle Maritime Festival, sponsored by Seattle Propeller Club with support from the Port of Seattle, from May 7-9, 2009.

"The festival is designed to celebrate and showcase our maritime industry and the important role it plays in the Puget Sound region's economy," commented Seattle Propeller Club President Andy Bennett, KPFF Consulting Engineers.

Most of the public activities take place on the Family Fun Day on Saturday, May 9, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Pier 66/Bell Harbor Marina and at Waterfront Park, Pier 57, on the Downtown Seattle Waterfront. There is no admission charge.

The highlight of the Festival is the annual tug races. This year, over 40 tugs and workboats are expected to participate in the 25th Annual Seattle Tugboat Race Championships.

Schedule of Key Events

Tuesday, May 5
Celebrity Judging for the Seattle Waterfront Neighborhood's Waterfront Chowder Cook-Off, Ivar's, Pier 54

Wednesday, May 6
Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society Dinner - For further information: www.pugetmaritime.org

Thursday, May 7
National Fisherman's "Tenth Annual Stories of the Sea" Poetry Competition - Highliner Pub, Fishermen's Terminal, 8 p.m.

Thursday, May 7
The Maritime Event Center, formerly the Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center, is proud to present the 11th Annual Maritime Career Day from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm.

This event provides a unique opportunity to take a glimpse into the working world of trade, transportation, fisheries, government and career training. Step aboard and explore working vessels, speak with industry representatives, and sit in on our Maritime Speaker Series. This opportunity is offered FREE of charge.

For further information: http://www.maritimeeventcenter.com

Saturday, May 9: Family Fun Day
Don't miss a container ship full of family fun as we celebrate the maritime industry and the important role it plays in the Puget Sound region's economy. Did you know that last year over 1.7 million containers moved through Port of Seattle or more than 1,200 cargo vessels called on the Port? Did you know the Port welcomed nearly 835,000 cruise ship passengers on board 211 cruise ships this year? Did you know that nearly 200,000 jobs and that one out of every three jobs in are state are trade related?

For further information, visit www.PortSeattle.org

Competitions

U.S. Oil Seattle Tugboat Race Championships
Seattle Fire Department Fireboat Display, Noon
Tugboat Demonstration, 12:10 p.m.
Abandon Ship Demonstration by Seattle Maritime Academy, 12:20 p.m.
Coast Guard Air-Sea Helicopter Rescue, 12:50 p.m.
WorkBoat Magazine & Pacific Marine Expo Parade to Post, 1:15 p.m.
Class C Classic Tug Race, 2 p.m.
Class B Harbor Tug Race, 2:30 p.m.
Seattle Fire Department Firefighting Demonstration, 2:45 p.m.
Class A Unlimited Tug Race, 3 p.m.

Thirteenth Annual Seattle Waterfront Neighborhood Waterfront Chowder Cook-Off, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Discover the best chowder around - participants include Anthony's Pier 66, Bell Harbor Conference Center, Elliott's Oyster House, The Crab Pot, The Fisherman's Restaurant & Bar, Ivar's, Steamer's Seafood Cafe at Pier 56, Seattle Marriott Waterfront and Six Seven at the Edgewater. Special chowder tasting areas will be created inside each restaurant or retail store.

Buy your Chowder Passport for only $5 at all participating restaurants or at the festival information booths. Proceeds benefit maritime community and youth organizations.

The Chowder Cook-Off is sponsored by the Seattle Waterfront Neighborhood and the Metropolitan Improvement District. For further information, visit www.SeattleWaterfront.org.

Pacific Maritime Magazine Quick & Dirty Boatbuilding Competition, presented with Jensen Maritime Consultants and TOTE - Industry teams compete in building a boat from standard materials at Waterfront Park. Judging at 3 p.m., with racing in the Bell Harbor Marina scheduled for 4 p.m.

World Invitational Survival Suit Races, 11 a.m., Bell Harbor Marina, Pier 66

Family Fun Day Events from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Vessel Tours, Remote Control Boat Demonstrations, Display Booths, Free Wooden Boat Building for Kids, and Kid's Activities Center

Free admission to the Maritime Event Center, Pier 66, from 10am -3pm. Free craft activities for kids.

Display Booths - Seattle Propeller Club, Port of Seattle, Washington State Ferries, ILWU and others at Waterfront Park.

Festival Information Booths and Maritime Store - Will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Waterfront Park and Pier 66.

97.3 FM KIRO Broadcasting Live - The official radio partner of the Seattle Maritime Festival and will be on the Festival grounds from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Meet afternoon host and Tugboat Race Grand Marshall Don O'Neill from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Waterfront Park.

Thursday, May 14
57th Annual Maritime Day Luncheon. During the luncheon, the Puget Sound Maritime Achievement Award, Elected Official of the Year Award and the Environmental Business of the Year Award will be presented.

Chart your course to the Seattle Maritime Festival. Call (206) 728-3163 or visit www.SeattlePropellerClub.org.

All events subject to change.

The Seattle Maritime Festival is sponsored by the Seattle Propeller Club, with the Port of Seattle.

The Seattle Propeller Club is the city's largest maritime organization and represents leaders from all aspects of the maritime industry, including shipping, fishing, tug and barge, ship building, trade, tourism, marine services and support, harbor services and port districts. The Port of Seattle plays a key role in bringing international trade, transportation and travel to the Pacific Northwest, and supports industries as diverse as tourism and commercial fishing. The Port also owns and operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

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 Source: www.24-7pressrelease.com/

Charleston, SC - One ship has set sail, but will others follow? There is still no agreement to keep the port authorities biggest customer docked, but one of Maersk's ships has left for good.
 
That means business could take a hit for the port, truckers, retailers, and even tug boat operators. The Maersk ship pulled out for good and left about two hours ago. Now some local businesses are bracing for the worst.

Maersk's first ship to permanently depart Charleston is creating rough waters for some Lowcountry businesses. Pat Barber owns Superior Transportation with more than 30 trucks, many bringing cargo in and out of Charleston’s port. One less ship means bad business for Barber.

“Just from a trucking perspective, what I do, that’s two or three hundred fewer truck moves a week per vessel,” said Barber. “That’s 300 fewer jobs per say a week for my company or another company like mine to handle.”

 “It will affect everybody that has to do with the waterfront, whether it's line handlers, ILA, tug boat crews, it's going to effect everybody,” said Barber.
The states port authority officials say the departure is a hit to the states economy.

“Every ship that comes into the Port of Charleston means millions of dollars to the local economy through employment, as well as the money re-spent here and all the companies that rely on that ship to get that cargo overseas,” said S.C. Port Authority Spokesman, Byron Miller.

While businesses like Pat Barber deal with the departure, there's still hope.

“The port is hurting, certainly not dead, by any means,” said Barber.

Many like Barber still have hope that this boat is the last to sail away for good.

Port authority officials say they are still in talks with Maersk to get them to stay. The contract is set to expire in 2010. Port authority officials say this ship carried mostly clothing apparel from Central America and the port is currently looking for another carrier to replace it.