Port of Coos Bay

09/04/2026

When an Abandoned Boat Becomes Everyone’s Problem

Today, a film crew visited the Port of Coos Bay to help tell a story that communities up and down the Oregon Coast know all too well: abandoned and derelict vessels are an expensive and growing challenge.

Through grant funding from NOAA’s Marine Debris Program and support from the BoatUS Foundation and Oregon Department of State Lands, the crew is visiting ports and communities along the coast—including Newport, Florence and Coos Bay—to document the scope of the problem and the challenges public entities face addressing it.

Here at the Port, we currently have more than 30 abandoned and derelict vessels in the Charleston Marina and Shipyard. When vessels are abandoned, the Port often takes responsibility for securing them before they can sink, break apart or create a pollution risk to Coos Bay and the surrounding estuary.

But getting a vessel out of the water is only part of the challenge.

Properly dismantling and disposing of an abandoned vessel is a complicated and extremely costly process—often running into the tens of thousands of dollars for a single boat. For a public Port with limited resources and dozens of vessels to address, those costs add up quickly.

The Port has a plan in place and is working with state agencies and other partners to safely remove and dismantle more of these vessels, but significantly more resources are needed to address the scale of the problem.

That’s why raising awareness matters.

The BoatUS Foundation is helping tell this story through an upcoming documentary highlighting ADV's in Oregon’s coastal communities, rivers and waterways—and our own Marina Manager Ray Dwire (pictured) traded the docks for the spotlight today to share the Port’s experience.

A big thank you to everyone helping shine a light on this issue, including Senator Dick Anderson, Representative Court Boice and David Gomberg, Our State Representative for participating in this week's filming.

Stay tuned for the upcoming documentary and a closer look at a challenge facing waterways and working waterfronts across Oregon.

09/02/2026

What Does PCIP Mean for a Kid Growing Up on the South Coast?

The Port of Coos Bay Board of Commissioners met yesterday as part of its ongoing monthly schedule of open public meeting on the Pacific Coast Intermodal project, providing a regular opportunity for the public to hear the latest on the project and the work underway.

Progress continues on several fronts, including RFPs related to the Reedsport Grade Crossing Project, coordination on the NEPA and permitting process, and other important project planning efforts with the rail and new terminal.

But some of the most meaningful conversations about PCIP aren't just about infrastructure. They're about what that infrastructure can mean for people who grow up here.

At a recent PCIP Commission meeting, local operating engineer and IUOE Local 701 member Tallon Trentz shared his own experience and talked about the opportunities available to young people entering the building trades.

Tallon is a homegrown South Coast success story. He was born and raised here, built a career in the trades, and is now working to help create similar opportunities for the next generation.

For local students, those opportunities can begin right here on the South Coast. Southwestern Oregon Community College, in partnership with the Southwestern Oregon Workforce Investment Board (SOWIB), offers a pre-apprenticeship program for students who have graduated from high school and are attending SWOCC, providing training that can count toward their apprenticeship.

Applicants to SWOCC’s Construction and Heavy Equipment Operator Pre-apprenticeship program must be at least 18 and have a high school diploma or GED. And careers such as operating engineers provides a pathway to earn wages between $48.09 and $63.26 per hour, plus excellent health, retirement and training benefits.

This is what pathways to professions can look like.

Major infrastructure projects like the PCIP create more than the immediate jobs associated with construction. They can strengthen apprenticeship programs, create demand for skilled workers, give young people a reason to build careers close to home, and help develop a workforce that benefits the South Coast long after construction is complete.

This is one of the many tangible benefits the PCIP can bring to the future of our region.

(to learn more: https://pcipproject.com/newsletter )

08/29/2026

There’s more than one pathway to partnership.

North Bend Mayor Jessica Engelke brought that message to this week’s Governor’s Marketplace in North Bend, highlighting several examples of South Coast collaboration—including a few involving the Port.

From partnering on the Shore Acres Holiday Shuttle to Port and City crews pooling people, equipment and know-how to repair downtown docks, collaboration doesn’t always need to be complicated. Sometimes you just pitch in.

Mayor Engelke also highlighted the proposed South Coast Rail Trail, where local government, philanthropic and community nonprofit partners are taking a ground-up approach to explore whether an unused rail corridor could become a new community asset.

And sometimes partnership looks a little less formal…

Our crew had a great time at the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business Night Out—taking 2nd place in the costume contest and nearly bringing home wins in bowling and co****le.

We may not have brought home the trophy, but we partnered on the journey, and sometimes how you get there matters just as much.

08/26/2026

Green Light for Safer Rail Crossings on the South Coast!

The Coos Bay Rail Line has been awarded funding from ODOT for the Multi-County Rail Crossing Safety Modernization Project, which will upgrade aging safety equipment at 14 public rail crossings across Coos, Douglas, and Lane counties.

Some of the existing crossing equipment is more than 40 years old and increasingly difficult to maintain. This project will replace outdated components with modern equipment designed to improve train detection, reduce false activations and equipment failures, and provide more reliable warning systems for motorists, pedestrians, and rail operations.

Improvements will include new crossing predictors, gate mechanisms, batteries and charging systems, and train-detection equipment.

The Coos Bay Rail Line is one of the few nonprofit short line railroads in Oregon, providing freight rail service to customers on the South Coast and connecting the region to the national rail network.

This rail safety project is independent of the Pacific Coast Intermodal Port (PCIP) project and addresses existing infrastructure needs along the Coos Bay Rail Line.

These upgrades are an important investment in the safety and reliability of the Coos Bay Rail Line and the communities it serves.

Thank you to the Oregon Department of Transportation for supporting this important rail safety project!

(click here to learn more about the CBRL: https://www.portofcoosbay.com/frequently-asked-questions-about-the-coos-bay-rail-line )

08/13/2026

Did you catch our latest update on the Pacific Coast Intermodal Port (PCIP)? With RFPs out for key elements of the project, there’s plenty happening—sign up below to stay connected as the project moves forward!

https://pcipproject.com/newsletter

08/11/2026

Ever wondered why Oregon Albacore tastes so different from the tuna you grew up with?

✨ It starts with the fish. Oregon fishermen target younger albacore shortly after they arrive in our waters on their migration. These smaller fish have a mild, clean flavor, a firm yet tender texture, and a light pink color that's worlds apart from the darker, stronger tasting tuna many people expect.

🎣 It also comes down to how they're caught. Every Albacore tuna caught in Oregon is landed one at a time using hook and line. This careful harvest minimizes stress on the fish and helps preserve its exceptional quality from the moment it's brought aboard.

🧊 Within minutes of being caught, each fish is immediately placed on ice or into an onboard freezer. That rapid chilling locks in freshness, creating the buttery texture and mild flavor that chefs and seafood lovers look for.

🍽️ The result is premium tuna that's delicious fresh on the grill, lightly seared, or canned for later.

📷: There are over 50 brands of small-batch Oregon Albacore tuna available on the market.

You can buy tuna right off the dock here in Charleston in multiple ways, one of the easiest is from Sharky's Charter Fishing

08/07/2026

Every great harbor has people behind the scenes who keep it running.

The Charleston Marina Complex is home to commercial fishing, recreation, tourism, maritime businesses, and thousands of visitors each year. It doesn't thrive by accident—it thrives because of people who take pride in maintaining it.

The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay is hiring a Maintenance Foreman to lead the team that helps keep this cornerstone of our coastal community operating at its best.

If you're looking for a leadership role where your work has a visible impact every day, we'd love to hear from you.

Send your resume:
⚓[email protected]

For more information and online application form: https://www.portofcoosbay.com/maintenance-foreman

07/24/2026

Albacore tuna season is underway on the Oregon Coast, and one of the questions we hear most often is:

"How do I buy fish directly from the boats?"

If you've ever wanted to purchase fresh seafood right off the dock, Oregon Sea Grant is offering Discover Oregon Seafood dock tours up and down the coast, including in Charleston over the next few weeks. You'll learn what seafood is in season, how it's caught, where to buy it, and what to look for when purchasing directly from local fishermen. Registration is available here: https://seagrant.oregonstate.edu/outreach-and-engagement/shop-dock (next Charleston tours are August 7 at 10am & 1pm)

Can't make the tour? No problem.

The Oregon Albacore Commission has a helpful guide that includes Charleston locations where you can buy albacore directly from fishermen, along with tips and a short video to help you know what questions to ask before you buy:

👉https://www.oregonalbacore.org/on-the-docks

Fresh, local seafood is one of the many things that makes our working waterfront special. Happy tuna season! 🎣

Learn about Oregon's commercial fisheries at a local port from Oregon Sea Grant experts and partners.

07/17/2026

The birthday girl was not thrilled when she arrived at work today and discovered the birthday party committee had beaten her to the office.

But Lanelle was a good sport and even agreed to a reluctant photo.

Behind the balloons and decorations is a leader who truly cares and works tirelessly to help build a healthy and flourishing future for our region.

Her dedication, kindness, and collaborative leadership inspire our team every day, and we're grateful to have her leading the Port.

Please join us in wishing Port CEO Lanelle Comstock a very happy birthday!

07/10/2026

Every project starts with a question.

Could an unused section of the Coos Bay Rail Line one day become a safe, connected trail serving Oregon's South Coast?

The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay has taken the first step in exploring that question by launching a new project webpage and applying for grant funding for a feasibility study.

If funded, the study would objectively evaluate engineering, environmental, financial, and community considerations to help inform future decisions. The project is in its earliest stages, and no decisions have been made regarding future construction

To help keep the community informed from the very beginning, we've created a project webpage that includes an overview of the trail concept, where the idea came from, and information about what happens next.

We also created an FAQ page that will continue to be updated as the project progresses and new questions are received from the community.

We invite you to learn more by visiting the project webpage:

https://www.portofcoosbay.com/the-south-coast-rail-trail-project