In April 2019, the Oceanside City Council awarded the J Dock replacement contract to Bellingham Marine, bringing the project full circle as the original dock systems were designed and built by Bellingham Marine in the early 1980s.

Along Southern California’s scenic coastline lies Oceanside, the only harbor located between Orange County and the City of San Diego. The Harbor is well known for aquatic activities such as deep-sea fishing, whale watching tours, boat rentals, sandy beaches, and surfing.  Alongside these attractions, Oceanside Harbor features a charming fishing village that is reminiscent of the architecture of Cape Cod, featuring a lighthouse, quaint boutiques, and local restaurants. The harbor was constructed in the 1960s and boasts a total of 950 slips. Aside from a partial renovation in the 1980s, it has remained relatively unchanged until the past year.

 

Of the 42 docks within the harbor, the J Dock is one of the largest and oldest original docks, consisting of 52 slips ranging from 32 to 55 lineal feet.  Three decades of exposure to ocean saltwater and heat had taken their toll on the original structures and as a result the dock had reached the end of its useful life necessitating a replacement. In April 2019, the Oceanside City Council awarded the J Dock replacement contract to Bellingham Marine, bringing the project full circle as the original dock systems were designed and built by Bellingham Marine in the early 1980s.

 

The first of two sequential phases of construction began in February 2021, and three months later the project was complete. The original dock was demolished, removed, and replaced without substantially altering the slip sizing, layout, or configuration. As a condition of the awarded contract, Bellingham was required to maintain 50% occupancy during both phases of the project, and this was achieved by implementing a comprehensive slip transition plan that provided temporary water and power to boaters during the construction.   Along with the total replacement of J Dock, Bellingham Marine installed a new 80-foot gangway that is fully ADA compliant and meets or exceeds all federal guidelines for marina accessibility.

 

The construction was completed in May 2021 and was opened at full capacity to its 52 slip holders in time for the busy Memorial Day weekend.