The Charleston Shipyard is a critical piece of Oregon’s South Coast working waterfront, supporting commercial fishing, vessel repair, and maritime industry jobs in Coos County.

Once a thriving marine industrial hub employing more than 50 skilled workers, the shipyard has seen significant decline due to aging and failing infrastructure—particularly the marine ways system, which is essential for hauling vessels out of the water for repair and maintenance.

Today, limitations in that system have reduced the shipyard’s capacity, cut employment by more than 65%, and forced vessel owners to seek repairs outside the region. These challenges directly impact the more than 280 jobs supported by the local commercial fishing industry.

The Port is pursuing a coordinated, multi-phase funding strategy to revitalize the Charleston Shipyard—leveraging both federal and state programs to make targeted investments that strengthen safety, capacity, and long-term viability. The goal is to restore the Charleston Shipyard to full functionality

This approach allows us to make meaningful progress now while building toward full shipyard modernization.

Phase 1: Marine Ways Improvements

• Status: Funding secured and pending
• Federal Funding (Rep. Val Hoyle): $1 million (awarded)
• State Funding (Connect Oregon): $2.3 million (applied, 2026 cycle)

This phase will replace the aging marine ways (a vessel haul out system), restoring the shipyard’s ability to safely and efficiently haul vessels for repair, maintenance, and upgrades. The upgraded system is expected to provide more than 40 years of reliable service.

Phase 2: Work Docks Rehabilitation

• Status: Federal funding request (2026–2027)

This phase will rehabilitate heavily used work docks that support day-to-day operations, including vessel servicing, gear changes, and maintenance activities essential to the commercial fishing fleet.