The Biz Buzz - New docks head from Tacoma to Hood Canal

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Monday, February 11th, 2008

New docks head from Tacoma to Hood Canal

Posted by John Gillie @ 01:37:30 pm

A football-field-sized floating marina built in Tacoma is approaching its destination at Union in the Hood Canal this afternoon after a two-day tow from the Thea Foss Waterway.

New dock heads out of the Foss Waterway Saturday

The dock, built by Tacoma's Marine Floats, was originally scheduled to leave the waterway at mid week last week, but blustery winds kept the dock from venturing out into more open waters.

The dock is part of the redevelopment of an existing marina at Union, said Brian McGinnis, the marina developer.

The new facilities will make the southern end of Hood Canal more accessible to power boats because it will include a fueling station, he said.

The southern part of the canal has been without fueling facilities since the three marine filling stations there closed for various environmental and economic reasons.

The new dock will be much more rugged and environmentally friendly than the older docks that once served the area. The floats that support the docks are sealed, and the decks are made of composite materials that don't rot or leach toxic materials into the water.

The new marina facilities will be near the Alderbrook Resort, which was also redeveloped by McGinnis

The journey thus far has been smooth except for some rough water at the northern end of the canal, said Marine Floats president Wendell Stroud.

A piledriver is awaiting the dock's arrival to drive the metal pilings that will secure it in place. The marina developer has until Friday to get those pilings in place before the "fish window" closes to protect juvenile salmon.

Categories: Aerospace

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Marce Edwards is the business editor. She has been at The News Tribune for seven years and has written about technology and big businesses in the South Sound including Weyerhaeuser and Russell. Before moving to Tacoma, she worked at The Idaho Statesman in Boise. She is a Northwest native who likes to garden and refuses to use an umbrella. She lives in Tacoma with her husband and two kids.

C.R. Roberts is a Tacoma native. Before joining The News Tribune, he worked as a freelance writer and part-time cowhand on a cattle ranch in Northern Idaho. He writes about small business, personal finance and other business issues.

John Gillie writes about the aerospace and airline industries, commercial development and consumer issues. During his 30-year-tenure at The News Tribune he has covered issues as diverse as the Native American fishing rights disputes, crime and the courts, the wood products industry and energy. He lived in Tacoma with his family for 25 years, but now lives in Kent because his wife heads a five-state non-profit foundation headquartered in Ballard, and it only seemed a sensible compromise to make considering their workplaces are 40 miles apart.

Kelly Kearsley has been a business reporter at The News Tribune since 2005. She covers the Port of Tacoma and international trade. Being born and raised in Spokane she’s used to living in cities with inferiority complexes and, in fact, prefers it. Prior to working at The News Tribune, she spent three years as a reporter for The Bulletin in Bend, Oregon and another year working stints for The Associated Press and Seattle Times. She graduated from Pacific Lutheran University. She lives in Tacoma with her husband and miniature schnauzer.