We are a small business with big goals:

  • Provide the best Marina experience in the Vancouver/Portland area with an excellent product and attentive, personal service.

  • Work together to keep our water clean and our environment thriving.

  • Encourage the community to enjoy the beautiful river in our backyard, while promoting safe boating practices.

We are proud to be a Washington Clean Marina.

We strive to follow the Clean Marina Best Management Practices. For a complete guide, click here:

Awarded 2019 Innovator of the Year by the SW Washington Business Journal

The newest marina on the Columbia River, Tidewater Cove was recently completed in phases with the final phase completed in April 2019. It was constructed with a number of innovative, state-of-the-art systems not previously used in existing marinas.

Some of these innovations include:

  • Innovative, pressurized sewer system in order to provide city of Vancouver sewer to “each” of the marina’s 90 slips.

  • Floating restrooms have been installed with a very innovative light passing floor system, reducing the footprint in the water to help support the Columbia River fishery.

  • State-of-the-art composite decking and spacing, allowing the docks the maximum light passage, to help support the underwater river ecosystems.

  • Innovative fire suppression system built into the entire marina to allow greater support to firefighters in the event of potential boat fire.

“We are so excited to be chosen as a Business Growth Awards Winner,” said Marina Manager Wendy Jacobs. “As business owners and operators we must lead by example. To be leaders we must look for innovative ways to take care of the people and the environment around us, better than we did yesterday.  We are proud to have built the Marina with this in mind and proud to be an example that any industry, with innovation, can make change for the better. We appreciate this recognition from the VBJ.” 

1932

Lew Russell, Sr., became interested in the river transportation of industrial commodities and began renting steam-powered sternwheel ships to move customer products from port to port. Throughout the ensuing years Lew set the framework of Tidewater Barge Lines.

THE
HISTORY OF
TIDEWATER
COVE

1942

After Lew set the framework of Tidewater Barge Lines, 10 years later — the Tidewater-Shaver Transportation Company was established.

1951

Ray Hickey got a job as a deck hand on a Tidewater tugboat. After spending his first four years on the Leland James, Ray transferred to the ocean division and became the chief engineer on the Tillamook, Tidewater's first ocean-going tugboat.

1950ട

Tidewater Terminal Company was established in the early 1950s to support the barge transportation business. Terminals at Vancouver WA, Umatilla OR, Pasco WA and Clarkston WA were built to receive and deliver bulk liquid products to and from barges.

1960

Tidewater became a full-fledged, independent tug and barge transportation company under the name of Tidewater Barges Lines.

1967 - 77

Ray became the operations manager of the ocean division and then was promoted to general manager in 1970, overseeing both ocean and river operations. He became president of Tidewater in 1977.

1996

Tidewater Cove Marina was a facility location of the Tidewater Barge Lines. In 1996, Ray Hickey sold Tidewater, now the largest inland tug and barge company west of the Mississippi, to an East Coast investment group.  It was his vision to replace The Tidewater Cove Facility with a community to include a Marina, Condominiums, Businesses and a Restaurant.

2022

The residents here today are proud to carry on what Mr. Hickey started as an idea…that turned into a drawing…that came to life at Tidewater Cove.