The Maine Department of Transportation and the Maine State Ferry Service commissioned the M/V Captain Almer Dinsmore on Thursday, Nov. 6. The ceremony at ferry service headquarters in Rockland marked the vessel’s official introduction into service on the Rockland-Vinalhaven route.
The Dinsmore is the first hybrid diesel-electric ferry designed and built in New England. Attending the ceremony were the vessel’s namesake, Captain Almer Dinsmore; Congresswoman Chellie Pingree; Maine DOT Commissioner Dale Doughty; and Maine DOT Director of Multimodal Operations Bill Geary. A tour of the vessel followed the ceremony.
“Today’s commissioning is about the future of Maine’s ferry service and the people who have built its proud tradition of service,” said Doughty. “The Captain Almer Dinsmore brings a new generation of ferry technology to the Rockland-Vinalhaven route while honoring a captain whose career reflected a deep commitment to Maine’s island communities.”
“For Maine’s island communities, ferries are a lifeline connecting people to jobs, schools, healthcare, and one another. As an island resident, I know how much these connections matter,” said Pingree, who lives on North Haven. “The Captain Almer Dinsmore represents an investment in the future of island transportation, pairing cleaner technology with the essential service generations of Mainers have relied on. It’s also a great example of how the bipartisan Infrastructure [Investment and Jobs Act] continues to make real, transformative impacts in our communities. Once again, Maine is leading the way on clean-energy innovation and showing what’s possible when we invest in the future of our working waterfronts.”
Dinsmore was born in Harrington in 1946 and raised in Steuben. His 45-year career at sea included service with the Maine State Ferry Service from 1978 until his retirement in 2013. He first piloted the Everett Libby on the Swan’s Island route and served as a relief captain for several island communities before becoming permanent captain of the Libby in 1987. His work reflected a lasting commitment to the residents and workers who depend on ferry transportation.
“It is a tremendous honor to have my name on this vessel,” Dinsmore said. “The most meaningful part of my career was serving the island residents and working alongside dedicated crews. I am proud that this ferry will carry that commitment forward for Vinalhaven and the people who travel there.”
The vessel’s hybrid diesel-electric design marks a new chapter for the service, connecting its tradition of maritime service with a new approach to powering its ferries.
