Maritime Economic Development: Coos Bay

Coos Bay: Port Welcomes New Travel Lift – Celebrates First Step in Major Shipyard Expansion

The Port of Coos Bay’s Charlestown Shipyard recently received a welcome addition a 100-metric ton Travel Lift purchased by the port to accommodate larger boats.

The new lift can hoist vessels weighing up to 220,000 pounds out of the water and move them to areas within the yard for upland storage or repair. It was purchased with a $600,000 loan from the Oregon Infrastructure Finance Authority.

The lift drives onto the slip to an open-end pier to lift vessels from the water. The existing slip spans 17 feet wide. The port is working through permitting processes that would allow widening the slip to 27 feet.

The added capacity will allow significantly larger vessels to be serviced and stored, thus benefiting the local fishing and recreational fleets. Larger vessels were previously unable to utilize services in Charleston’s Shipyard because of the lack of lift capacity, having to access other shipyards further up or down the coast.

The shipyard is home to three marine businesses Giddings Boat Works, Tarheel Aluminum Inc., and Skallerud Marine Services each offering a variety of repair and fabrication services. Charleston Harbor Master John Buckley anticipates an increase in shipyard activity, noting, "We have already been receiving requests to have larger boats pulled out of the water."

The port’s long range plans for the shipyard include expanding the property by 4.8 acres and purchasing a second Travel Lift capable of lifting vessels weighing at least 200 metric tons.

The new Travel Lift at Coos Bay’s Charlestown Shipyard will serve the port’s recreational and fishing boat industries.
Photo/Oregon International Port of Coos Bay