ON FRIDAY, APRIL 21, my wife, Mardi, and I attended the maiden voyage party aboard the cargo ship New Face, which was moored to the Port of Port Angeles’ Terminal 3, where she was taking on a load of logs for export to Lanshan, China.
The 616-foot ship is a new vessel that was recently launched in Japan, and Port Angeles was her first port of call in the United States.
Such notable moments in the life of a ship are worthy of celebration — ergo, the party, which was sponsored by Alcan Forest Products and catered by Jeb Kimsey.
Additionally, the crew prepared a table of international cuisine that was very well-received. The gathering was well-attended by all manner of personnel involved in the shipping of logs to the Far East, including many longshoremen who loaded the cargo aboard New Face.
The executive director for the port, Karen Goshen, was in attendance, as was Port Commissioner Steven Burke.
Mike Nimmo, the marine terminal manager, presented the captain of the ship, Capt. Itoc, with a picture of Port Angeles to memorialize the vessel’s first port of entry in the United States.
Robert Luxa of SSA Marine, the company that provided stevedoring services to the ship, presented Capt. Itoc with a carved vase that was adorned with the likeness of an orca, which in Native American culture is representative of strength and power.
As I understand the tradition, these gifts presented to Capt. Itoc stay with the vessel as long as she remains afloat.
New Face left Port Angeles for Lanshan on Wednesday afternoon with approximately 6.2 million board feet of debarked logs and is scheduled to return to Port Angeles in seven weeks for another load of logs, according to Roger Redifer of Alcan Forest Products.
Parcel for Platypus
Fair bit of exciting news out of Platypus Marine: It has acquired the parcel of land east of the Commander Building on Marine Drive that was once owned by Pettit Oil Co. and plans to construct a 20,000-square-foot building on the site to accommodate the needs of its growing business.
Currently, Platypus has Pokagon in the Commander Building. She is a 108-foot large harbor tug that is attached to Naval Station Everett. I understand the exterior of the vessel will be sandblasted and given a fresh coat of paint — a project that I was told will extend well into the middle of summer.
Platypus also has a 64-foot aluminum Coast Guard screening vessel in the Rubb Building. She is an escort vessel that was built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding in Somerset, Mass.
Her mission is to act as a screen for high-value military assets in domestic ports.
The vessel operates in conjunction with the HOS Arrowhead and HOS Eagleview to escort submarines as they transit the Strait of Juan de Fuca into and out of Hood Canal.
The escort vessels are powered by twin MTU diesel engines that are coupled to Hamilton water jets and can reach speeds in excess of 30 knots.
The boats are equipped with a head, galley, berths and lockers, and mounted on each foredeck is a remotely operated weapon system.
The interiors are outfitted with Shockwave heavy-duty suspension seats, shock-mitigating floor matting and a heating and air-conditioning system.
They are equipped with thermal imaging systems and an array of the latest technology for their navigational and communication requirements.
I understand once personnel complete the servicing of the Hamilton water jets and replace associated bearings, the vessel will receive a new coat of bottom paint.
Waterfront Days
Set your calendar for Sunday, May 21, because that’s when the second annual Waterfront Days will be held.
From noon to 4 p.m. on that day, the following entities will participate in the festivities (as many of you will recall, last year’s initial offering was a rousing success): Port of Port Angeles, Port Angeles Yacht Club, North Olympic Power Squadron, Coast Guard Auxillary, Clallam County Sheriff, Masco, Westport, Platypus, North Olympic Salmon Coalition, Streamkeepers of Clallam County, Port Angeles High School Sailing Team and Puget Sound Pilots.
There will be boats available for touring and free vessel safety checks at the Port Angeles Yacht Club, driving tours of Terminals 1 and 3, guided tours of Platypus Marine, exhibits and demonstrations at the yacht club, food trucks at the west Boat Haven and a kids scavenger hunt with prizes.
This year as last, there will be a complimentary shuttle.
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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 and boat yards.
Items and questions involving boating, marina and industrial activities and the North Olympic Peninsula waterfronts are always welcome. News announcements about boating groups, including yacht clubs and squadrons, are welcome as well.
Email dgsellars@hotmail.com or phone him at 360-808-3202.
Mike Nimmo, right, the marine terminal manager, with Capt. Itoc on the bridge of New Face. (Dave Sellars/for Peninsula Daily News)