Seattle Press on Line - Fishermen's Terminal Opens to Yachts June 1

Port news

Fishermen's Terminal Opens to Yachts June 1

By Jo Bailey and Carl Nyberg

"Yachts Don't Feed People" sign displayed on a fishboat at Fishermen's Terminal. Sara Longley photo.

May 23, 2002 -- Fishermen's Terminal will allow yachts and other non-commercial vessels to moor in the historical terminal for the first time beginning Saturday, June 1. The terminal has been dedicated to the Pacific Northwest Fishing Fleet since it was built in 1911, and operated since 1913 by the Port of Seattle.

Seattle Port Commissioners voted in January to open the terminal to non-commercial or recreational vessel moorage to help reduce moorage vacancies, estimated between 20 and 40 percent.

At last week's Commission meeting they heard from Terminal Manager Kenny Lyles about how the plan for introducing non-commercial vessels into the terminal would be implemented. He said that fish boats will still have the first rights to moorage at the terminal and that commercial vessel owners could moor their recreational boats at the terminal.

The recreational boats up to about 50 feet long will be moored in vacant slips in the small fishing fleet moorages at Docks 3 through 10 which has 370 slips, said Mick Shultz, Port media relations officer. He said that about 106 of the slips are currently vacant since many fish boats have headed north for the season.

Shultz said there is a waiting list of 300 boats at the Port's Shilshole Marina and some of the boat owners have indicated they might be interested in mooring at Fishermen's Terminal. Moorage is estimated at about $7.25 per foot per month. Moorage rates at Shilshole are $258.63 for a 30-foot slip or $8.63 per foot; $384.11 for a 40-foot slip, or $9.60 per foot, and $526.40 for a 50-foot slip, or $10.52 per foot.

Shultz said the moorages will be on a month-to-month basis. However, Terminal Manager Kenny Lyles said at last week's Port meeting that moorage would be offered on a short-term monthly or daily basis, with some guest or overnight moorage.

"There are far more vacancies in summer and we want to capture as many non-commercial boats as possible," Lyles said. "Commercial fish boats will always have priority, and when the fishing fleet returns in September, non-commercial boat moorage may be reassigned."

Commissioner Paige Miller said that commercial vessels can "bump" non-commercial boats at the terminal and determined that the last non-commercial boat in would be the first to leave.

Port staff indicated that recreational moorage will basically be from June through August this year. Because of major construction along the South Wall, three docks at a time may be closed down over the next five years and boats will not be able to use those docks for moorage, said a staff member.

Reader Comments

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Steve	Jun 07, 2002	Ballard
This is long over due!


Tom	Jun 07, 2002	Boater
I hate this idea.


Yelly Tambadou	Jan 07, 2004	Bronx,NY,10457	Messenger
Iam so so happy with this service in that big state wich help more millions people from being homeless . So my felicitation and condolence for a great advantage. Thank you and HAPPY new YEAR.