For More Information:
Carolyn Casey, Port of Bellingham: 360-676-2500
Neil Turney, Puglia Engineering: 360-647-0080
For Immediate Release:
Fairhaven Shipyards Leases More Space to Expand Bellingham Operations
[Bellingham, Wash.] Puglia Engineering's Fairhaven Shipyards plans to hire about 90 new employees this year as it expands into an adjacent space and prepares its second dry-dock for operation. The shipyards already employ more than 110 people locally.
Today the Port of Bellingham's Board of Commissioners approved the expansion into the former Arrowac Fisheries building and surrounding property with a modification of Puglia's original 2002 lease. This lease continues until 2015.
"We applaud Puglia Engineering for moving forward with its expansion during a time when new family-wage jobs are essential," said Commission President Scott Walker. "Puglia is in a very competitive shipyard market and has made significant investments in its operations so that it can serve a greater diversity of ships."
Earlier this year, Fairhaven Shipyards acquired a second dry-dock, the Faithful Servant, from China and moved it to Bellingham. Company officials said they invested about $12 million in private funds to purchase the semi-submersible barge that will be used as a dry dock. The company is in the process of upgrading and modifying the Faithful Servant in preparation for its use. The company will be hiring new supervisory and estimating positions to gear up for operating two dry docks.
Skilled marine trades have always been a key part of Whatcom County's economy and Bellingham Technical College offers programs to train new workers, Walker said. The Fairhaven Shipyards' expansion further strengthens that job sector.
The Arrowac Fisheries building, next to the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, became available after Arrowac closed its Bellingham fish processing operations and consolidated its business in Seattle. Fairhaven Shipyards plans to use the building for administration offices and will transform the employee lunch room into a large estimating/planning center. In future months, the company will expand its valve shops and machine shops to the lower level of the Arrowac building.
"Although it is unfortunate to see a long-term business such as Arrowac Fisheries close their doors here in Fairhaven, it is proving to be a blessing for us," said Neil Turney, President of Puglia. "With the recent expansion of our services and capabilities here at the shipyard, our need for additional office and shop space would be getting critical in the near future. We are very fortunate that this space, immediately adjacent to our facility became available."
The new lease will take effect immediately.
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