Seattle Maritime Festival Features World's Biggest Tugboat Races, Chowder Cook-Off, Survival Suit Races, Boat Building Competition, Harbor Tours and Lots of Free Family Fun this May

SEATTLE, WA, March 06, 2011 (Press-News.org) Don't miss the boat when the world's largest tugboat race thunders along the Downtown Seattle Waterfront! Enjoy the Waterfront Chowder Cook-Off. Check out the survival suit races, a boat building competition, vessel tours, free harbor tours, sea-air rescue demonstration, kid's events, Stories of the Sea, and a container ship full of family fun.

The Downtown Seattle Waterfront is the place to be for the annual Seattle Maritime Festival, sponsored by Seattle Propeller Club with support from the Port of Seattle, from May 12-14, 2011.

"The festival is designed to celebrate and showcase our maritime industry and the important role it plays in the Puget Sound region's economy," commented Seattle Propeller Club President Marc Warner, LeGros Buchanan & Paul.

This year's Festival celebrates the Centennial of the Port of Seattle. For details of the Port's Centennial Celebration, including a special interactive timeline, visit www.portseattle.org/about/organization/centennial.shtml.

Capt. Scott Ferguson, commander of Sector Puget Sound, U.S. Coast Guard is the Festival's Honorary Chair and Mark Knudsen, SSA Marine, is serving as the Festival's General Chair.

The Maritime Festival is a unique combination of industry events and free public activities during May. Most of the public activities take place on the Family Fun Day on Saturday, May 14, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Pier 66/Bell Harbor Marina, on the Downtown Seattle Waterfront. There is no admission charge.

The highlight of the Festival and Family Fun Day is the annual tug races. This year, over 30 tugs and workboats are expected to participate in the 26th Annual Seattle Tugboat Race Championships.

2011 Festival Highlights include (all events subject to change):

Tuesday, May 10
Celebrity Judging for Chowder Cook-Off
9:30 - 11:30 a.m., World Trade Center Holland American Dining Room
Waterfront restaurants compete for the trophy in this cook-off. Sponsored by the Seattle Waterfront Neighborhood, www.seattlewaterfront.org, and Metropolitan Improvement District, www.downtownseattle.com.

Tuesday, May 10
Working Waterfront Workshop: The Economic and Industrial Future of the Duwamish
1 - 5 p.m., Maritime Events Center, Pier 66
Join community, business, labor and government agency leaders at an informative Workshop to discuss the economic and industrial future of the Duwamish. During the Workshop, you will learn about current and planned economic initiatives and build new relationships with individuals and organizations engaged in insuring

Puget Sound's economic vitality and environmental sustainability. Workshop fee is $80. To register or for further information visit: www.SeattlePropellerClub.org.

Wednesday, May 11
60th Annual Maritime Day Luncheon
Holland America's Zaandam at Smith Cove Cruise Terminal, Pier 91. During the luncheon, the Puget Sound Maritime Achievement Award, the Elected Official of the Year Award and Marine Environmental Business of the Year Award will be presented. The luncheon is sponsored by the Seattle Propeller Club, with support from the Port of Seattle. Cost is $60.

For reservations:
Polly Kirkpatrick
Marine Exchange of Puget Sound
Polly@MarineExchangeSea.com
P: 206-448-7660
www.SeattlePropellerClub.org

Thursday, May 12
13th Annual Maritime Career Day, Maritime Events Center, Pier 66
If you are looking for a career with great wages, chart your course to the 13th Annual Maritime Career Day from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Maritime Event Center, Pier 66, on the Downtown Seattle Waterfront. Admission is free for students, job seekers and the general public.

Further information: www.maritimeeventcenter.com

Thursday, May 12
National Fisherman's Eleventh Annual Stories of the Sea Fisher Poetry Slam, Conor Byrne
The Festival will award cash prizes to the top three finishers in this unique Maritime Poetry Slam. Only 12 spaces are available and registration is on a first-come basis. Presented in cooperation with Pacific Marine Expo.

Saturday, May 14: Family Fun Day, Pier 66 and Bell Harbor Marina

U.S. Oil & Refining Seattle Tugboat Race Championships
The 27th Annual competition is the largest tugboat race in the world. This year, more than 30 boats are expected to participate. Racing is from the Grain Terminal, Pier 86, to the finish line at Pier 66.

Fire Boat Display, Noon
Abandon Ship Demonstration, 12:20 p.m.
Coast Guard Sea/Air Helicopter Rescue, 12:50 p.m.
WorkBoat Magazine Workboat Parade, 1:15 p.m.
Class C Limited Tug Race, 2 p.m.
Class B Harbor Tug Race, 2:30 p.m.
Fireboat Firefighting Demonstration, 2:45 p.m.
Class A Unlimited Race, 3 p.m.

Competitions:
Pacific Maritime Magazine Quick & Dirty Boatbuilding Competition
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Industry teams compete in building a boat from standard materials at Pier 66, starting at 9 a.m. Judging at 3 p.m., with racing in the Bell Harbor Marina, Pier 66, scheduled for 4 p.m.

World Invitational Survival Suit Races presented by Seattle Maritime Academy
11 a.m., Bell Harbor Marina
This prestigious, exciting and fun event will feature teams of four members. At the starting gun, teams put on their survival suits, jump into the warm waters of Elliott Bay, swim to a life raft and climb aboard. The fastest team wins the competition and the trophy.

Fifteenth Annual Seattle Waterfront Neighborhood Waterfront Chowder Cook-Off
11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Discover the best chowder from top Downtown Seattle Waterfront restaurants! Special chowder tasting areas will be created inside each restaurant. Buy your Chowder Passport for only $5 at all participating restaurants or at the festival information booths. Proceeds benefit maritime community and youth organizations.

Free Harbor Tours (11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.) presented by the Port of Seattle
Discover the working waterfront. Board at Bell Harbor Marina/Pier 66 one-half hour prior to each departure. There is a limit of 400 guests for each tour. Stop by the Festival Information Booth at Pier 66 to pick up your ticket. There is a limit of four tickets per adult, 18 years or older.

Vessel Tours - U.S. Coast Guard, tugboats and other workboat are expected to participate

Kids' Fun - Free Wooden Boat Building for Kids, Kids Activity Center, free Admission to the Maritime Events Center and other family fun

For further information, call (206) 787-3163 or visit www.SeattlePropellerClub.org.

Background:
The Seattle Maritime Festival is sponsored by the Seattle Propeller Club, with the Port of Seattle.

The Seattle Propeller Club is the city's largest maritime organization and represents leaders from all aspects of the maritime industry, including shipping, fishing, tug and barge, ship building, trade, tourism, marine services and support, harbor services and port districts. For further information, please visit the Seattle Propeller Club. www.SeattlePropellerClub.org.

The Port of Seattle plays a key role in bringing international trade, transportation and travel to the Pacific Northwest, and supports industries as diverse as tourism and commercial fishing. The Port also owns and operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

In 2011, the Port of Seattle celebrates 100 years of service to the community. For details of the Port's Centennial Celebration, including a special interactive timeline, visit Port of Seattle Centennial. www.portseattle.org/about/organization/centennial.shtml.