Port of Bellingham Commissioners Chart Strategic Direction for Fairhaven Properties

The Port of Bellingham’s Board of Commissioners met Thursday to discuss the strategic direction for port-owned properties in Fairhaven, advancing projects which support jobs, improve public access, and restore the environment.

The public work study focused on 33 acres of port-owned land including the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, Fairhaven Station, Fairhaven Marine Industrial Park (FMIP), Marine Park, and a public boat launch.

Major Projects Underway

• Protecting Jobs at FMIP: The Port raised site grades and built a sea berm to protect FMIP from sea level rise. Upcoming improvements to sewer, stormwater, power, and telecommunications infrastructure will safeguard over 100 marine trades jobs and open a new lot for marine trades development. The project is supported by a grant and loan from Whatcom County’s Economic Development Investment Program.
• Expanding Public Access: In 2026, the Port will build a new ADA-accessible hand-launch dock and small kayak beach near the Community Boating Center, the only facility of its kind north of Everett. The project is supported by Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office grant.
• Cleaning Up Legacy Contamination: Work is underway to cleanup 5 acres of marine industrial land south of the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, supported by a grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology.

Optimizing the Bellingham Cruise Terminal

While the Alaska Ferry continues to be the primary user of the Bellingham Cruise Terminal with weekly service to Alaska, Port staff identified opportunities to further activate the transportation terminal with small to mid-size cruise vessels. This work would build off the 2008 Fairhaven Comprehensive Scheme of Harbor Improvements which reviewed passenger vessels. Marine trades representatives voiced support for this type of increased activity, highlighting substantial economic benefits. As a next step, staff recommended a Feasibility Study that, if approved at an upcoming Commission meeting, would begin a 12-18-month process to evaluate partnership opportunities, infrastructure needs, and potential impacts; and bring this information to the community for feedback.

Activating the Fairhaven Shipyard

Commissioners discussed the future of the former Fairhaven Shipyard property, a large marine industrial site where the cleanup of historic environmental contamination is nearly complete. With strong potential to create new living-wage jobs, maritime stakeholders shared recommendations on infrastructure which would benefit the working waterfront and the types of businesses which might be interested in the property. Commissioners requested more information on Puget Sound maritime trends and industries best suited for the site.

Looking Ahead

Port staff will prepare a Fairhaven Work Study report to document the Commission’s strategic direction. The Fairhaven session is part of the Port’s quarterly series of geographically focused planning meetings. The next session will focus on the Waterfront District in early 2026.

More information about port-owned properties in Fairhaven can be found in the Fairhaven Comprehensive Scheme of Harbor Improvements.