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

    SEATTLE, WA, March 28, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Thrill to the power of the world's biggest tugboat races! Enjoy the Waterfront Chowder Cook-Off. Don't miss survival suit races, a boat building competition, vessel 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 7-9, 2009.

"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 Andy Bennett, KPFF Consulting Engineers.

Most of the public activities take place on the Family Fun Day on Saturday, May 9, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Pier 66/Bell Harbor Marina and at Waterfront Park, Pier 57, on the Downtown Seattle Waterfront. There is no admission charge.

The highlight of the Festival is the annual tug races. This year, over 40 tugs and workboats are expected to participate in the 25th Annual Seattle Tugboat Race Championships.

Schedule of Key Events

Tuesday, May 5
Celebrity Judging for the Seattle Waterfront Neighborhood's Waterfront Chowder Cook-Off, Ivar's, Pier 54

Wednesday, May 6
Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society Dinner - For further information: www.pugetmaritime.org

Thursday, May 7
National Fisherman's "Tenth Annual Stories of the Sea" Poetry Competition - Highliner Pub, Fishermen's Terminal, 8 p.m.

Thursday, May 7
The Maritime Event Center, formerly the Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center, is proud to present the 11th Annual Maritime Career Day from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm.

This event provides a unique opportunity to take a glimpse into the working world of trade, transportation, fisheries, government and career training. Step aboard and explore working vessels, speak with industry representatives, and sit in on our Maritime Speaker Series. This opportunity is offered FREE of charge.

For further information: http://www.maritimeeventcenter.com

Saturday, May 9: Family Fun Day
Don't miss a container ship full of family fun as we celebrate the maritime industry and the important role it plays in the Puget Sound region's economy. Did you know that last year over 1.7 million containers moved through Port of Seattle or more than 1,200 cargo vessels called on the Port? Did you know the Port welcomed nearly 835,000 cruise ship passengers on board 211 cruise ships this year? Did you know that nearly 200,000 jobs and that one out of every three jobs in are state are trade related?

For further information, visit www.PortSeattle.org

Competitions

U.S. Oil Seattle Tugboat Race Championships
Seattle Fire Department Fireboat Display, Noon
Tugboat Demonstration, 12:10 p.m.
Abandon Ship Demonstration by Seattle Maritime Academy, 12:20 p.m.
Coast Guard Air-Sea Helicopter Rescue, 12:50 p.m.
WorkBoat Magazine & Pacific Marine Expo Parade to Post, 1:15 p.m.
Class C Classic Tug Race, 2 p.m.
Class B Harbor Tug Race, 2:30 p.m.
Seattle Fire Department Firefighting Demonstration, 2:45 p.m.
Class A Unlimited Tug Race, 3 p.m.

Thirteenth Annual Seattle Waterfront Neighborhood Waterfront Chowder Cook-Off, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Discover the best chowder around - participants include Anthony's Pier 66, Bell Harbor Conference Center, Elliott's Oyster House, The Crab Pot, The Fisherman's Restaurant & Bar, Ivar's, Steamer's Seafood Cafe at Pier 56, Seattle Marriott Waterfront and Six Seven at the Edgewater. Special chowder tasting areas will be created inside each restaurant or retail store.

Buy your Chowder Passport for only $5 at all participating restaurants or at the festival information booths. Proceeds benefit maritime community and youth organizations.

The Chowder Cook-Off is sponsored by the Seattle Waterfront Neighborhood and the Metropolitan Improvement District. For further information, visit www.SeattleWaterfront.org.

Pacific Maritime Magazine Quick & Dirty Boatbuilding Competition, presented with Jensen Maritime Consultants and TOTE - Industry teams compete in building a boat from standard materials at Waterfront Park. Judging at 3 p.m., with racing in the Bell Harbor Marina scheduled for 4 p.m.

World Invitational Survival Suit Races, 11 a.m., Bell Harbor Marina, Pier 66

Family Fun Day Events from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Vessel Tours, Remote Control Boat Demonstrations, Display Booths, Free Wooden Boat Building for Kids, and Kid's Activities Center

Free admission to the Maritime Event Center, Pier 66, from 10am -3pm. Free craft activities for kids.

Display Booths - Seattle Propeller Club, Port of Seattle, Washington State Ferries, ILWU and others at Waterfront Park.

Festival Information Booths and Maritime Store - Will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Waterfront Park and Pier 66.

97.3 FM KIRO Broadcasting Live - The official radio partner of the Seattle Maritime Festival and will be on the Festival grounds from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Meet afternoon host and Tugboat Race Grand Marshall Don O'Neill from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Waterfront Park.

Thursday, May 14
57th Annual Maritime Day Luncheon. During the luncheon, the Puget Sound Maritime Achievement Award, Elected Official of the Year Award and the Environmental Business of the Year Award will be presented.

Chart your course to the Seattle Maritime Festival. Call (206) 728-3163 or visit www.SeattlePropellerClub.org.

All events subject to change.

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. 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.

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