All about the West Seattle neighborhood around Beach Drive
We believe that this is a UW research boat, The Thomas G. Thompson, to investigate methane gas that’s bubble plumes.
“In mapping the bubble plumes, it became clear that large numbers were aligned along geologic fault zones, primarily the ones running east and west, known as the Seattle, Tacoma and South Whidbey faults. Others lined up with smaller north-south faults, but the greatest number of bubble plumes occurred where the faults intersected, such as off Alki Point in West Seattle.”
Update: April 2nd
This April 1st post is quickly developing as Beach Drive residents stormed the port offices last night and negotiated to replace proposed freighter/cargo anchorages with underwater cradles for our submarine fleet. Crisis averted; future views restored!
Scupper
The comment period regarding commercial shipping being allowed to use waters off West Seattle’s Beach Drive for temporary anchorages ended on March 31st. A port spokesperson stated that the additional “temporary” anchorages will go a long ways to solve our regional supply chain issues “the port’s current overflow anchorage in Manchester WA has helped alleviate our additional needs in a robust economy but is not nearly enough to satisfy the pandemic caused surplus of inbound shipping”. He went on the say that ships bound for our waters are having to wait off our coast for up to two weeks before port and anchorage capacity is available causing fears of environmental disaster as seasonal weather systems can jeopardize safety at sea.
The approved plan is to immediately provide four cargo/container ship anchorages between the Fauntleroy ferry terminal to the south and roughly Alki Point to the north. Anticipated need is predicted though the first half of 2023 but the permit is valid through 2025.
The Port together with the CG will closely monitor the anchorage and has made the following assurances:
• When ships are fueled, all operations must be encircled by a boom
• Ships may not dump grey water. — from activities like laundry, dishwashing and bathing — or blackwater, from toilets. They’re required to dump it after they reach shore.
• A Coast Guard radar tracks when a vessel moves beyond its swing circle, and an alarm sounds.
Other concerns voiced by Beach Drive residents that were addressed:
While anchored, ships must keep their deck lights on high enough that crew members can move about safely, said CG Cmdr. Bill Bligh, chief of prevention. They need to run generators for power, but are encouraged not to slam hatches or grind metal, particularly after 8 p.m. “although nothing specifies exactly how bright or loud they can be”.
Beach Drive Blog will update this post as information becomes available.
Scupper, reporting for the BDB
We have been informed that the first annual 4th of July Boat Parade will by cruising along the shores off Beach Drive this afternoon. The parade is sponsored by Alki Yacht Club and The Mortgage Porter.
Any neighbor with a boat that can cruise 4 knots (we will make accommodations for slower craft) is welcome to tag along. The parade will start at 2:30 pm today in front of the volly ball courts at Alki and make it’s way around Alki Point, ending at Lincoln Park.
The most decorated vessel will win a Alki Yacht Club burgee. Runner up will receive a commemorative 2020 Mariners baseball schedule magnet.
Around 3:30 this afternoon, we called the Coastguard when it appeared a boat was adrift. From our view point, we could not see if there was anyone on board. The Coastguard asked if we could send them a photo to help identify the boat (picture is above).
The intrepid reporter, Scupper and I hopped into our car to see if we could get a better vantage point of the boat. We called the Coastguard once we noticed that there was a person on-board (on the dinghy) and that the boat was getting dangerously close to Harbor West Condominiums.
The disabled cabin cruiser was pinned against the pilings of Harbor West Condos. The Coastguard confirmed with us that he is out of immediate danger as the boat seemed secured, and that they’re leaving.
Update:
A big turnout from both the Seattle Police and Seattle Fire Departments.
The boat was able to get free of the condo’s pilings and began to drift towards the reef just as the SPD and SFD boats arrived.
It appeared as though the boater did not want any help. He was in his dinghy pulling the boat away from the SPD and SFD just missing the reef by inches.
Seattle Fire Department was able to secure the boat and the boat operator.
Update: the boat is slowly being towed. We are wondering where it will end up.
Update 6:09 pm.
We are at Don Armeni boat launch where the Seattle Fire Department appear to be preparing to dock the boat.
Update 6:31pm
The boat is now secured at Don Armeni boat ramp.
Scupper assisted with helping to secure the boat to the dock.
The inhabitant on the boat stayed below deck while Scupper was assisting the fire and rescue crew. 
It’s Scupper’s opinion that this boat has not been under it’s own power for some time and his dinghy is used to maneuver the boat. It appears to be a derelict live-aboard boat.
It will be interesting to see what happens next. Obviously the boat cannot stay at Don Armeni tied to the boat ramp.
The Department of Natural Resources has a program for derelict boats but it appears that this man does not want to give up this boat/home.
EDITORS NOTE: This was a “live” post that was mostly done from my cell phone. My apologies for any typo’s I didn’t catch! We also have videos posted at www.facebook.com/beachdriveblog
Right now Delta Marine has a mega yacht cruising around our “back yards” off the shores of Beach Drive.
There are not a lot of details about this yacht via Marine Traffic. I can tell you she is a whopping 210 feet long and 29.5 feet wide.
Maybe she belongs to the owners of the 11,000 square foot mansion that’s being built on the 6000 block of Beach Drive.
Puget Sound chumming season is in full swing on this beautiful day.
Photo credit: Scupper
This morning our intrepid reporter, Scupper, caught a couple pics of the John C. Stennis heading out into the lingering smoky haze from the BC fires.
The fireboat that is cruising back and forth in Puget Sound is from San Francisco.
I believe this super pumper may be this brand new fireboat.
Vigor Fab is building this new fireboat to add to San Francisco’s fleet.
It looks like Lady Lola may have been leaving Bremerton when we spied her from the shores of Beach Drive. Here’s a pic heading towards Alki Point.
This Super Yacht is 205 feet and available for charter for a mere $365,000… per week! Built in 2002, she was declared the most beautiful yacht of her time. Here’s more info.
If Lady Lola does something remarkable, making her worthy of membership to the Alki Yacht Club, she might be allowed to tie to our buoy!
Another type of vessel has been taking a spin on the popular Beach Drive test track. Joining Delta Marine and the WA State Ferries is a brand spanking new 108′ fire boat built by Foss Maritime & bound for the Port of Long Beach California. The super pumper named “Fire Boat 20” tested forward & reverse for most of the day along the drive this morning.
According to Pacific Maritime Magazine…
The Long Beach pair each carry four Caterpillar 3512-C main engines, producing a total of more than 8,000 HP. Two engines are dedicated for pumping only, while two do double duty – propulsion and simultaneously adding more pumping power for a total of over 40,000 gpm. A pair of Cat C12 150-kW gensets provides the boats’ electric power. The largest monitor will be capable of delivering 12,000 gpm at a 600-foot range. The other nine monitors range from 1,500 to 6,000 gpm. Top speed is 12 knots – sufficient for a compact port like Long Beach. The low-wash speed is eight knots and on-site endurance is five days.
Being one of the most technically advanced emergency boats in the world, it even has systems that protects the firefighters from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats. I looked into buying one to protect Beach Drive but couldn’t negotiate them down from the 25+ mil price tag!
Scupper, reporting for Beach Drive Blog
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