Repair work at the Toledo yard
has continued unabated despite the ongoing national health crisis and its impact on the larger economy.
“We’re an essential business under the governor’s stay-at-home order,” Shoemake said, “and that’s certainly how our customers feel.”
The busy yard worked on 12 large fishing vessels over the past month, ranging from the 60-foot-long F/V Timmy Boy to the 111-foot F/V Hickory Wind, all of them handled by the port’s big lift. Another 15 smaller vessels were also worked using the port’s smaller 85-ton mobile lift, including the R/V Elakha
,
a 54-foot Oregon State University research vessel.
More work on other vessels - both Oregon-based and from out-of-state - is scheduled out for months in advance. Vessels from as far south as San Diego and as far north as Southeast Alaska have come to Toledo for their repair work in recent years.
Once completed, the new building will add to the yard’s capabilities and attract additional business. “We’re busy, and we’ve been that way almost from the beginning,” Shoemake said.
“This is an important facility, not only for this community but for the Newport and Depoe Bay fishing fleet, as well as supporting the regional fishing fleet,” he added. “Without it, the central coast economy would lose millions of dollars in economic activity every year.”
