A trio of fish houses and piers on Barleyfield Point, a rocky peninsula that juts out into Lowell’s Cove, Orr’s Island. A lawsuit by one of numerous shareholders seeks to force the others to sell their interest in the property. PHOTO: J.W. OLIVER

Working Waterfront

Battle over working waterfront on Orr’s Island

The numerous co-owners of a sliver of working waterfront on Orr’s Island, which has been treated as a public amenity for generations, may have to sell their shares soon if one of them prevails in court. A lawsuit filed by part-owner John E. “Jack” Sylvester Jr. that seeks to force… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Hybrid ferry is a ‘half attempt’

I was greatly disappointed to read that the new ferry being built for Islesboro has gone from an all-electric boat to a hybrid. With global warming affecting the Gulf of Maine faster than most other bodies of water in the world, I believe we need to make our best effort… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Stonington’s ‘Discovery Wharf’ open

In the heart of Stonington, Maine’s highest lobster landings port, fisheries come alive at 13 Atlantic Avenue, home of the Discovery Wharf, Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries’ vibrant interpretive center for visitors of all ages. The MCCF Discovery Wharf provides interactive experiences ranging from hands-on learning about sea creatures in… SEE MORE

Gov. Janet Mills held a ceremonial bill signing for LD 574, a measure sponsored by Rep. Morgan Rielly, D-Westbrook, and cosponsored by Rep. Vicki Doudera, D-Camden, that would expand the language of working waterfront covenants to include nonprofit corporations and charitable trusts that are authorized to hold conservation easements, further protecting Maine’s last remaining miles of working waterfront.

Working Waterfront

Land trusts can now protect working waterfronts

A bill sponsored by Rep. Morgan Rielly of Westbrook (LD 574: An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Working Waterfront Covenants) has been signed into law, greatly expanding opportunities for protecting Maine’s remaining working waterfronts. “Maine’s fishing industry accounts for nearly $1 billion in annual revenues, and it’s an industry… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Vinalhaven native named ferry chief

[caption id="attachment_37218" align="alignleft" width="275"] William Geary Jr.[/caption] William Geary Jr. has been named director of the Maine State Ferry Service. Born on Vinalhaven, Geary is a 1998 graduate of Maine Maritime Academy, where he earned an unlimited 3rd mate’s license. He served as an officer in the U.S. Navy for… SEE MORE

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Storm damage closes Bean lobster pier

A powerful winter storm that left thousands without power for days and brought devastation to communities all along the Maine coast in December also struck a blow at Linda Bean’s lobster empire, though the ultimate impact on the high-profile business is unclear. The storm that struck just days before Christmas… SEE MORE

Stan Beal’s "Wharf, Beals, Maine,” (2022) collage, 18-inches by 24-inches. IMAGE: COURTESY LITTLEFIELD GALLERY

Working Waterfront

Mary Prince: On Stan Beal’s wharf

While attending St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, N.C. in the late 1960s, Mary Prince drove through Maine on a trip to St. Andrews, New Brunswick. “I felt immediately that Washington County was the place where I wanted to live,” she recalls. And live there she did: In 1983, the… SEE MORE

Visitors enjoy Popham Beach in Phippsburg in 1886. PHOTO: MAINE MARITIME MUSEUM

Working Waterfront

Beach recreation is relatively new

The practice of beachgoing is more modern than one might expect. In fact, it wasn’t until the turn of the 19th century that a cultural appreciation for beachgoing gained solid footing in European society. Popular medical texts touted the benefits of ocean air and dips in frigid waters. At the… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

They’re back—cruise ship season underway

Maine’s cruise ship season began April 23 with the arrival in Portland of Holland America’s Zaandam, carrying about 1,400 passengers. A smaller cruise vessel, the Ocean Navigator of the American Queen Voyages line has been in Eastport with crew only since April 10. A live, real-time schedule of cruise visits… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

The tragic end of MDI’s Capt. Rumill

On the night of Oct. 10, 1905, John Taylor, captain of the Blanche King sailing off North Carolina’s Cape Fear, observed something that raised his concern. Taylor saw “a four-masted schooner, sailing erratically outside the usual shipping channel, with her red light hanging from its rigging.” What Taylor soon discovered… SEE MORE