Bernie Arthur and the Kiwanis Club of Port Townsend are raising funds for a mariners memorial, to be located on the water side of the sidewalk about 100 feet west of the state ferry terminal.

Arthur believes the maritime community of Port Townsend needs a place to memorialize those who have been lost at sea.

"The ones that drowned, they don't have a grave. They don't have a headstone," he said. Many locals know someone who was lost at sea, he said, and visitors would also benefit from a mariners memorial.

Arthur owns the property and gave 50 feet of it to the Kiwanis Club for the project.

Plans drawn up by local architect Kevin Coker depict a roughly 18-by-18-foot bulkhead shaped like of the prow of a ship extending seaward from the sidewalk. The general idea is "a bulkhead with a sidewalk on it," Arthur said, plus bench cleats from the PT Foundry as seating, a flagpole, a large donated anchor, and space on the "bulwarks" of the structure for names of donors and lost mariners to be engraved. A QR code would help visitors access and add the names of lost relatives or friends to an accompanying website with a searchable list of names of people lost at sea. Arthur has a bronze binnacle with a big bronze steering wheel to put there, too, which kids could enjoy.

"It will be a focal point in the community," he said.

"There's so many people who have lost people that have drowned at sea."

To encourage donations, Arthur has had bronze coasters made at the PT Foundry that depict an image of the memorial. Coasters go to people who donate $100 or more. For more information, email porttownsendkiwanis@gmail.com.

"This is for the community," Arthur said.