Sunday, May 17, 2009

1st Annual "Clean, Green Boating Fair" Shines Spotlight on Success!

Thanks to everyone for your participation, time and energy in the 1st Annual “Clean, Green Boating Fair” on Saturday, May 2, 2009!

The teamwork and dedication shown by all helped the Tacoma Liveaboards and Citizens for a Healthy Bay host a successful, groundbreaking Fair at Delin Docks Marina in downtown Tacoma on the Opening Day of Boating Season.

Don Meyer, Executive Director of Foss Waterway Development Authority, welcomed all to the Opening Ceremony and acknowledged the importance of this 1st Annual Fair to raise the awareness of all recreational boaters about the impacts of our actions on the health of people and ecosystems in Foss Waterway, Commencement Bay and Puget Sound.

Special Guests Celebrate Success
Meyer introduced the following special guests gathered to celebrate the success of 20+ years of Superfund Cleanup efforts to restore Foss Waterway and Commencement Bay:

* City of Tacoma Mayor Bill Baarsma
* Clark Mather, District Director, Office of Congressman Norm Dicks
* Dr. Joel Baker, Port of Tacoma Chair, University of Washington, Environmental Sciences
* Marv Coleman, Toxics Cleanup Program Manager, Department of Ecology
* Chris Wilke, Pollution Prevention Director, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance
* Marilyn Strickland, Tacoma City Council
* Mike Lonergan, Tacoma City Council
* Kris Flint, Project Manager, Environmental Protection Agency
* Clare Petrich, President, Port of Tacoma Commission
* Jim Merritt, Merritt for Mayor

Mayor Baarsma paid tribute to all the partnerships involved in rebuilding Tacoma’s downtown waterfront today by removing 100+ years of heavy industrial pollution in the waterways. Other speakers charged recreational boaters with the ongoing responsibility of environmental stewardship and caring for the waterways we call “home.”

Following the Opening Ceremony, the City of Tacoma’s “Baywatcher” vessel and Admiralty Yachts’ Duffy electric boats offered narrated tours of the restored Foss Waterway and seminars and exhibits promoted eco-friendly technologies and services.

Kudos to 1st Annual Fair Supporters
We could not have accomplished this successful event without the many extra efforts of Delin Docks Marina staff and our sponsors, speakers, exhibitors, boat captains, and most of all, our VOLUNTEERS who went “ABOVE AND BEYOND” with hours of selfless service.

Together you’ve helped us forge a path to a better future for us all! We've created a positive legacy for future generations by hosting this inaugural event. Thank you for taking action to preserve our resources and prepare for the "Next Generation!"

2010 2nd Annual "Clean, Green Boating Festival"
Stay tuned for Tacoma's waterfront 2nd Annual “Clean, Green Boating Festival,” to be held May 22, 2010 at Foss Waterway Seaport, Tacoma’s boating destination that celebrates the past, present and future of the area’s rich maritime importance.

The 2nd Annual "Clean, Green Boating Festival" will expand the first "Clean, Green Boating" event's mission by focusing on new "green" marine products and services that offer conservation, efficiency, and reduced pollution; environmental practices for “clean water” stewardship; and safety information to save lives and preserve resources.

For more information about next year’s Fair, contact the Tacoma Liveaboards at madhuri@madhurihosford.com or (206) 478-6621, and visit the Tacoma Liveaboard Association website.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Citizens for a Healthy Bay brings "hands-on" education to "Clean, Green Boating Fair"

Citizens for a Healthy Bay (CHB) works with citizens, businesses, and federal, state and local government agencies to cleanup, restore and protect the shorelines and waterways in Tacoma and South Puget Sound. CHB also operates a Clean Boating outreach and education program -- sponsored by the Port of Tacoma -- to inform recreational and commercial boaters of their role in preventing pollution and maintaining sustainable boating practices.

CHB's Bay Patrol Director, Jeff Barney, travels by boat throughout area waterways to identify and quickly resolve water pollution issues by working with Washington State Department of Ecology, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the City of Tacoma.

At the "Clean, Green Boating Fair," CHB's Bay Patrol boat will be onsite, along with information about CHB's Citizen Stewards program that trains volunteers to prevent, detect and report water and shoreline pollution.

A highlight of CHB's offerings will be the "EnviroScape" hands-on interactive display, a watershed model that demonstrates how changes we make can reduce the amount of pollutants washing off roads, farms and landscapes into our rivers and Puget Sound.

CHB offers clean water and shoreline restoration educational presentations to students, business leaders and other groups, and also monitors and investigates issues reported via the City of Tacoma's Water Pollution Hotline (253) 255-3895, where callers report pollution on the area's waterways or land.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Tours, talks and exhibits announced for "Clean, Green Boating Fair"

The Tacoma Liveaboards and Citizens for a Healthy Bay invite you and your family to the 1st Annual “Clean, Green Boating Fair” – a day of free boat tours, talks and environmental exhibits – on Saturday, May 2nd (Opening Day of Boating Season) from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Delin Docks Marina, across Foss Waterway from downtown Tacoma’s Museum of Glass.

The Fair will celebrate 20+ years of successful Superfund Cleanup activities and will show ways to protect our waterways while enjoying an exciting season of being on the water. With over 15 exhibits, 4 presentations, narrated tours of the restored Foss Waterway onboard Admiralty Yachts' Duffy electric boats and the City of Tacoma's "Baywatcher" vessel, a beautiful array of power, sail, and human-powered boats to enjoy as you walk the docks, and marine life visible as the tides rise and fall, the Fair promises fun for all ages.

Volunteers' invitation
Volunteers are invited to come get a preview of the May 2nd "Clean, Green Boating Fair" and sign up for specific roles and shifts:

“Clean, Green Boating Fair” Volunteer Sign-up Meeting
Thursday - April 23, 2009
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Delin Docks Marina Community Room

“Clean, Green Boating Fair” Schedule of events
Saturday – May 2, 2009
Exhibits and Information Tables
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM Delin Docks Marina - Outdoor Tents in Marina Parking Area

Boat Tours + Boats on Display
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM Delin Docks Marina – Between D & E Docks

Opening Ceremony
10:30 – 11:00 AM Delin Docks Marina – Outdoor Tent in Marina Parking Area
(Schedule to be announced soon)

Presentations in Delin Docks Marina Community Room

11:15 – 11:45 AM Mark Schrader’s “Around the Americas” Presentation
11:45 – Noon questions
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Noon – 12:15 PM transition
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12:15 – 12:45 PM Jim Muri’s “Solar / Wind / Alternative Options” Presentation
12:45 – 1:00 PM questions
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1:00 – 1:15 PM transition
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1:15 – 1:45 PM Natalie Sears’ “Detailing: Keeping it Green” Presentation
1:45 – 2:00 PM questions
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2:00 – 2:15 PM transition
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2:15 – 2:45 PM Norm Cole’s “Fire Safety at Sea” Presentation
2:45 – 3:00 PM questions
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3:00 PM Close of events

Friday, April 10, 2009

“Fire Safety at Sea” training at “Clean, Green Boating Fair”

You’re on a cruise in the San Juans … you’ve had a great day … and now you’re frying up some fish for dinner, when suddenly “Whoosh!” The cook stove shoots up bright, hot flames that instantly blacken the boat’s headliner and singe your hair.

Quick – what’s the first thing you do? Which type of fire extinguisher is safe to use? When should you call for help?

For most recreational boaters, a rush of adrenalin and fear is usually the first response in a situation like this. You can, however, stay calm and in control of the situation if you know which fire fighting product to use, how to use it and where it’s kept.

At the “Clean, Green Boating Fair,” Norm Cole of Fireguard Extinguisher Service will present “Fire Safety at Sea,” a review of the basic portable fire extinguisher types to have on your boat, the chemical components and uses for each type, and the manufacturers to stay away from.

With over 30 years of experience in portable fire extinguisher training, Cole will show how fire extinguishers are labeled to show the class of fire each can extinguish:

Class A – Wood, paper, cloth, trash
Class B – Flammable liquids, oil, gas, grease, diesel
Class C – Electrical, energized electrical equipment
Class D – Combustible metals
Class K – Kitchen deep grease (deep fryer)

Cole will also teach the P.A.S.S. method:

Pull the pin
Aim at the base of the fire
Squeeze the handle
Sweep side-to-side

A fire-fighting demonstration will follow Cole’s instruction and Q&A session. The first hand experience boaters gain from this practice session could make the difference between safe, effective response to a fire with minimal damage vs. trauma and tragedy.

Fireguard Extinguisher Service will also offer onsite re-certification and re-charging of reusable fire extinguisher canisters at the Fair. Bring your fire extinguishers and get up-to-date servicing right in the parking lot of Delin Docks Marina!

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Marine “green power” options presented at “Clean, Green Boating Fair”

Jim Muri, Corinthian Yacht Club of Tacoma member and systems engineer, will present the realities of “green” power generation, including solar, wind and towed generation options at the 1st Annual “Clean, Green Boating Fair.”

A sailboat owner, Muri first discovered the practical uses of solar generators as a partial solution to offshore battery maintenance while planning a sailing passage to Hawaii. Here in the Pacific Northwest climate, Muri uses solar energy to keep his own vessel’s batteries powered for about eight months each year.

“Green power” options
Topics covered in Muri’s free talk will include calculating your vessel’s energy budget and general planning guidelines for the following battery maintenance options:

  • Solar power generation
  • Towed generator power generation
  • Wind generator power generation

Muri will show a simple spreadsheet created for energy budget planning. Motivated to discover ways to avoid carrying and using extra fuel to maintain battery power, Muri used his pragmatic and space-saving approach in planning off shore passages. His research led him to install solar and towed generator systems to supplement battery power without the use of his vessel’s engine.

During his talk, Muri will display a large solar panel, a small solar panel, and a charge controller from West Marine, along with his own towed generator. He will also cover similarities between solar, wind and towed generators.

In addition to researching the merits of “alternative” energy, Muri – a former U.S. Army Officer and author of literary and adventure-romance novels – has used his skills to develop web-based outlets for his prolific publications. Following his talk, he will stick around to discuss energy planning for intrepid sailors bound for ports afar or for just hanging out on the hook in some backwater hideout here in the Sound.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

City of Tacoma's Environmental Services educates boaters at "Clean, Green Boating Fair"

Over the last decade, the City of Tacoma, in partnership with responsible parties and property owners, conducted a historic cleanup of heavily polluted waterways surrounding downtown Tacoma. Sediments contaminated from 100 years of industrial activity were removed or capped in place, and fragile marine habitats restored.

The cleanup was completed in 2006, and now the Thea Foss Waterway and surrounding areas of Commencement Bay thrive with new life and pedestrian friendly attractions.

Keeping waterways clean
Today the City’s Environmental Services helps prevent re-pollution of the area by monitoring Foss Waterway sediment, handling complaints about spills and illicit dumping of chemicals, inspecting commercial properties, and conducting public education to raise awareness among Tacoma residents of how our actions affect our watershed and the quality of our local lakes, streams and Puget Sound.

At the "Clean, Green Boating Fair," boaters can learn more about their own role in protecting and restoring Foss Waterway and all of Puget Sound. Thousands of boaters taking a hands-on, preventive action approach can make the Sound a better place for a multitude of extraordinary wildlife – otter families, salmon, oysters, starfish, blue herons – and for the millions of people who enjoy the beauty and recreational and commercial resources in our waterways.

City of Tacoma Environmental Services "green" boating recommendations include:
  • Perform boat maintenance out of the water in approved facilities that capture waste water and comply with environmental standards.
  • Use a "Shop-Vac" to vacuum up dust when sanding.
  • Use a drip cloth when painting.
  • Use a work barge to capture debris when handling any exterior maintenance.
  • Immediately call 911 or (253) 383-2429, Tacoma’s 24-hour Water Pollution Hotline operated by Citizens for a Healthy Bay, if you spot a concentrated oil sheen on the water's surface or experience strong fuel odors around an oil sheen.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Mark Schrader’s “Around the Americas” expedition featured at “Clean, Green Boating Fair!”

A “Clean, Green Boating Fair” highlight will feature Captain Mark Schrader speaking on his exciting "Around the Americas" 25,000 mile voyage circumnavigating North and South America to call attention to saving our oceans. In partnership with Seattle’s Pacific Science Center, the University of Washington’s Applied Physics Lab, and Sailors for the Sea, Schrader’s “Around the Americas” expedition will depart Seattle in June 2009 on the 64' steel-hulled sailboat, Ocean Watch, traveling around the Americas clockwise through the Northwest Passage, down the east coast, north around Cape Horn, and returning to Seattle in July 2010. The journey will include studies of changes in our marine environment -- climate change, acidification and pollution -- and stops at 30 ports of call where the public can board the vessel to learn how life on land and the health of our seas is being threatened by human activities. Watch this blog for details of Mark’s talk and a schedule of events at the Fair!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Sign up for "Pump Me Out" Mobile Pump Out Service at "Clean, Green Boating Fair"!


Finally!! Pump Me Out, a new weekly mobile pump out service based in the Greater Seattle area, will soon start servicing recreational vessels in Tacoma! Pump Me Out, co-owned and operated by Dwight Knechtel and his son Jeff Knechtel, will have one of their shiny new aluminum vessels on-site during the "Clean, Green Boating Fair" on Opening Day of Boating Season, Saturday May 2nd from 10 AM to 3 PM. Pump Me Out will be part of the FREE day of talks, demonstrations, boat tours and boat rides, "hands-on" environmental exhibits, and fun for the entire family. Come to Delin Docks, Dock Street Marina, and Foss Harbor Marina in downtown Tacoma!

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Opening Day of Boating Season - "Clean, Green Boating Fair" - May 2, 2009!

The “Clean, Green Boating Education & Environmental Awareness Fair” will be co-hosted by the “Tacoma Liveaboards,” Citizens for a Healthy Bay, and Foss Waterway Marina Management, on Opening Day of Boating Season on Saturday, May 2, 2009 at Foss Waterway marinas (Delin Docks Marina, Dock Street Marina and Foss Harbor Marina) in downtown Tacoma.

Free & Fun for the Family
This free, open-to-the-public event will bring live, hands-on safety demonstrations, environmental learning activities for all ages, free Coast Guard boat safety checks, "Go Clean, Go Green!" presentations tailored for local and visiting boaters, free Clean Boating Spill Kits, on-site fire extinguisher recertifications, and information about new mobile pump out services available in Tacoma.


Environmental & Ecology Tips
The goal of the fair is to raise boaters' awareness about the effects of their individual actions on the health and safety of people and the ecosystem in Foss Waterway and Puget Sound, and to encourage "Clean, Green Boating" in 2009 and in the decades to come. Puget Sound waterways have the highest per capita boat usage in the U.S. Come and learn new ways to ensure your own safety and preserve the fragile ecosystem in our “front yard.”