passenger or crew?

My ancestor, Didrik Olsen b.1838, and listed in the parish records of 1894 as a "sagmester" (sawmill operator) died in Port Hadlock, Washington, USA of a stroke? and I presume buried at sea. His home was in Sogne, Vest Agder and I am trying to figure out why he was in Washington. I've learned that Port Hadlock was a fairly new area developed by Sam Hadlock for the purpose of operating a Sawmill. So my question is: was sagmester a typical job aboard a logging ship? Was Norway importing or exporting? What is known about logging ships? Speculate please. Thanks, Frances