POSTED: Monday, Feb. 01, 2010

Bellingham's Blue Sea Systems sees opportunity in commercial trucking

Each week The Bellingham Herald takes a closer look at a business or construction project. This week: Blue Sea Systems.

What they do: The company makes electrical products for the marine industry. Products include circuit breakers, battery switches, distribution panels and metering accessories. Many products are made with copper; the company purchases around 50 metric tons of the metal a year. The company is ISO certified and offers a lifetime guarantee on its mechanical (not electronic) products. In recent years it has been getting more involved in the trucking industry.

What's new: At the beginning of 2010, the company formed Terra Power Systems, which handles the new trucking contracts.

Blue Sea Systems uses 20,000 square feet of space at its facility in the Cordata Business Park; it will take an additional 8,000 square feet in the building in April to make Terra a separate entity, said Scott Renne, chairman of the two companies.

He said the marine electrical products they make are similar to the needs of large commercial trucks: Both need to keep the engine running for some creature comforts, like heat, when the vehicles are not in motion. For boats, that means plugging into generators or at marinas. Because the trucking industry is trying to curtail engine idling when the driver is sleeping or resting in the vehicle, more truck stops are providing electrical outlets similar to those used for boats.

"Blue Sea Systems has a company culture of boaters, so I wanted to create a separate culture for the heavy commercial trucking industry," Renne said. "I want Terra to know what the life of a trucker is like. While our product is similar, how you sell it for boats is dramatically different than selling it for trucks."

Owner/management: Renne founded the company in 1992. Eric Graham was recently named president of Terra Power.

Employees: 56, including seven new employees hired in January.

Outlook for 2010: After experience slowing sales for the first time in the company's history in 2008 and 2009, Renne expects 2010 to be a growth year. He said that many companies have been focused on reducing inventory during this recession. In January orders spiked, an indication to him companies are starting to replenish inventory.

If the growth continues, Renne said they plan to build a separate building nearby to house the administrative parts of the businesses, possibly within the next two years.

Blue Sea Systems

425 Sequoia Drive, Bellingham

738-8230

Bluesea.com.