All Hands on Deck

Photo by john larson

BOAT HOUSE. Some equipment for the Sea Scouts is in a World War II-era structure on the east side of Thea Foss Waterway. Fundraising is underway to demolish it and create a new home there for the Sea Scouts and other maritime programs for youth.

Efforts are underway to create two new buildings on the east side of Thea Foss Waterway to house the Sea Scouts and a variety of other programs to get youth to dip their toes into the waters of the maritime life and explore career opportunities.

Sea Scouts is a program that gives youth opportunities to get out on the water in boats. It is currently based in an old building on the west side of the Foss, which it will eventually have to vacate when the parcel is developed.

Tacoma City Council recently authorized a grant agreement with Port of Tacoma in which the city will provide $500,000 to the port for a future home for Sea Scouts.

Port Commissioner Clare Petrich said the city decided to allocate funding for youth maritime education efforts about 18 months ago. The money is generated by real estate excise taxes. The port purchased a parcel on the east side of the Foss about two years ago.

Petrich was a Sea Scout in her youth. She spent much time with them on ships, learning navigation skills and swabbing the decks. “Being a Sea Scout was terrific.”

It helped launch her career in the maritime industry. Her grandfather started Western Boatbuilding Company, which made fishing vessels. It eventually became Petrich Marine Dock, which leases space to maritime-oriented businesses.

John Idstrom was hired to oversee a capital campaign to raise funds for the project, which will be called Tacoma Youth Marine Center.

Currently the foundation is operating out of a structure on East ‘D’ Street that was built during World War II. Frank Erickson, executive director of the foundation, said when the organization assumed ownership there were 57 derelict boats on the property.

It houses Commencement Bay Marine Services and Tacoma Fuel Dock. While the port owns the land, the foundation owns the businesses. They are managed by a young man who was once a Sea Scout, Erickson said.

Earlier plans considered restoring the existing building, but that was deemed to be unfeasible. The plan now is to keep the current building operating while a new one is built just to the north. When finished, that will house the businesses and the old structure will be demolished. Another building to the south will house the educational components.

Idstrom noted that conversations are ongoing with other organizations, including Metro Parks, 4H, Boys and Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound and Tacoma Public Schools, about having programs based in the future facility.

“While the Sea Scouts are a big part of this, it has grown from that impetus to include other groups,” Idstrom said. “We are welcoming any group that is interested in operating a program for youth that is water based.”

Erickson said Tacoma Public Schools does a good job preparing students who are heading off to college, but needs to do more for youth who will go in a different direction. Talks are underway with the school district about partnering on vocational education opportunities. He feels this could inspire youth to pursue further education at local technical colleges.

The Seafarers Union is also interested in this. Erickson said Washington has the fourth-highest population of mariners in the nation. Half of them are past 40. “The pipeline for replacing them has dried up,” he said.

The union is interested in an apprenticeship program, which will introduce young people to maritime careers.

The industrial building will have 9,000 square feet. It will house a fuel dock, a 20-ton haul-out crane and moorage.

The other will have 34,000 square feet. It would house classes for vocational training, meeting rooms and a banquet room, which the foundation could rent out for private events.

Idstrom said the overall cost of the project has not been finalized, but he said it likely would be between $12 million and $16 million. Under the best-case scenario, it would open in 2011.

Hank Hibbard, a board member for the Sea Scouts, thinks the facility can instill a strong work ethic in youth. “There is a huge disconnect between kids and work today,” he said. “This could give them some positive role models.”

Petrich, who serves on the board of Youth Marine Foundation, is thrilled about the potential education programs. “The whole point is to put kids on boats,” she said. “That has been vital to helping kids grow up.”

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