1942 ❖ JENSEN SHIPYARD IS SCENE OF ACTIVITY WITH MORAN MACHINERY

Jensen's shipyard south of Friday Harbor, is a scene of activity this week as a crew of men under the direction of Howard Wilson, is engaged in preparing the shore west of the present ways for the installation of several additional ways capable of handling hulls up to 125 feet in length.
      The preliminary work involves the removal of all trees and the cutting down of the hill north of the road by bulldozer so that the marshes may be filled and an even grade established. Another crew is busy in the woods getting out piles that will be driven to secure firm footing for the ways.
      As soon as the ground is prepared work will be started to construct the ways and erect a machine shop, and sheds to house machinery and materials.
      It is reported that a deal has been consummated to purchase the machinery formerly used by Mr. Robert Moran at Rosario, in the building of the Sanwan. Other machinery will be procured in Seattle and the yard when completed for ship construction will be exceptionally well equipped.
      The new management is not prepared at this time to disclose the type of vessels which will be constructed. When the yard is in full operation a force of at least 50 men will be employed. It is planned to recruit this force as far as possible from local citizens and thereby avoid a housing situation for Friday Harbor.
      Mr. Ben F. Harris of Seattle is the president of the new operating company, and Mr. Wilson is the local superintendent.

The Friday Harbor Journal. 12 November 1942.  

Nourdine Jensen
Photo by Gordon Keith in 1957.
The oak and mahogany wheel was made by 
his father, Albert Jensen. 

A one-half year later the first of several small government tug boats were being constructed at the Albert Jensen & Sons shipyard, for the US Army and launched at high tide last week. The vessel was christened the MT-322 by Miss Fay Wilson, daughter of the Howard Wilsons. It was champagne over the bow as the vessel started to move down the ways to take its place in helping win the war.

The Friday Harbor Journal. 27 May 1943.

When WW II broke out, Nourdine was working in Seattle but joined the navy and spent two years in the South Pacific doing ship repair. After the war, he returned to work in his father's shipyard according to Miki Straughan in the Islands' Weekly of July 2000.