ASTORIA BAY, A 610-foot cargo ship, moored to the Port of Port Angeles’ Terminal 3 on Wednesday to take on approximately 7 million board feet of logs that were harvested from Merrill &Ring’s private holdings in Western Washington for shipment to China.
In last week’s column I wrote that the cargo ship Alaska was in port for a load of logs for China.
Whenever I mention log ships and China, I seem to field quite a few phone calls and emails from those who are of the opinion that this is an example of jobs being exported from the United States and those same logs will be returned to the United States in the form of consumer products such as furniture and computer desks.
As I have come to understand the market, the logs that are exported are primarily hemlock, which is a softwood that is ideally suited for use in the construction trades.
The predominant construction material in China for residential and commercial structures is concrete.
The logs exported from Port Angeles are milled into lumber that is used to fabricate the forms used in construction.
I understand that hardwoods from the Midwest and South are exported to foreign markets and likely make their way back to the United States as consumer products.
However, those logs are typically containerized and shipped from the East Coast.
Across the way
My wife and I spent Wednesday in Victoria.
Leaving Victoria’s Inner Harbour aboard the Coho, we saw an impressive yacht, Lady Lola, a 205-foot Oceanco yacht that is available for charter at a bargain price, depending upon the season, that ranges from $365,000 to $430,000 a week, plus expenses.
As we passed Ogden Point, we saw a small cruise ship, Silver Discoverer, moored next to a larger cruise ship that is a common sight.
As it turns out, this is a luxury cruise ship.
Platypus events
Platypus Marine, the full-service shipyard, yacht repair facility and steel-boat manufacturer on Marine Drive in Port Angeles, on Thursday launched the open lighter barge YC 1624, which was towed to Port Angeles from Bremerton in early June for preservation work that included a new coat of paint after being sandblasted.
The barge should be good for another 50 years of service.
Platypus has had Kaori, a 125-foot Palmer Johnson, at its facility since the middle of May. She is now in the Port Angeles Boat Haven and will soon get underway for sea trials.
I understand the vessel will make a cameo appearance in the sequel to “50 Shades of Grey.”
Ed, the engineer on Kaori, will stand in as the captain for his debut on the silver screen.
Will Hollywood come calling?
Platypus recently hauled out a Fleming 65 and stowed her in the Commander Building.
The vessel was purchased by an individual from Fisher Island, Fla., who has entrusted Platypus with a laundry list of changes and modifications that are to be made to the 67-foot yacht.
Once the work is completed, the vessel will be put upon a yacht transport and shipped to the owner in Florida.
The logistics-escape trunks that Platypus worked on for Kitsap Bangor that I wrote about last week were shipped back to the sub base on Thursday.
Harbor happenings
On Monday, Tesoro Petroleum in Port Angeles Harbor provided bunkers to Beteigeuze, a Liberian-flagged bulk cargo ship.
On Thursday, Tesoro refueled Lady Marite, a 715-foot bulk carrier that is flagged in Panama.
On Friday, Tesoro bunkered Ym Virtue, a 711-foot bulk cargo ship that is flagged in Liberia.
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David G. Sellars is a Port Angeles resident and former Navy boatswain’s mate who enjoys boats and strolling the area’s waterfronts and boat yards.
Items and questions involving boating, marina and industrial activities and the North Olympic Peninsula waterfronts are always welcome. News announcements about boating groups, including yacht clubs and squadrons, are welcome as well.
Email dgsellars@hotmail.com or phone him at 360-808-3202.
