The steamer Islander at Squirrel Island Landing in 1901.

Working Waterfront

Traveling in style—Maine Maritime Museum remembers steamboat era

“Transport like no other” declared a sign posted more than 100 years ago on the Bath City Landing, directing visitors to board the steamboat Virginia. That sign is one of the items on display in a new steamboat exhibit at the Maine Maritime Museum. It’s been more than 25 years… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Schooner Bowdoin readied for another 100 years

By Dora Thompson It was a dry winter for the historic schooner Bowdoin. The vessel, best-known for carrying explorer Donald MacMillan to the Arctic in 1913 and now owned and operated by Maine Maritime Academy (MMA), was out of the water this winter. It was one of the only times in… SEE MORE

A view of Belfast's tug boats from the harbor walkway.

Working Waterfront

Stand-off on Belfast’s waterfront illustrates new dynamics

The Island Institute launched this newspaper over 20 years ago in part to highlight the importance of Maine’s working waterfronts. Those properties, from which marine harvesting and other water-dependent businesses operate, were suddenly threatened by commercial and residential development. The most visible example of that threat came when condominiums were… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Cruise business continues upward trend in Maine

Maine is a happening place when it comes to attracting cruise ships. The numbers just keep going up. Statewide, the season is bringing 378 cruise visits to Maine ports, said CruiseMaineUSA Director Amy Powers. The passenger yield is estimated to be over 283,000, an increase of over 6 percent above… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Fellows explore university-industry marine partnerships

Eight students from Maine universities delved into the science and practice of marine aquaculture recently, thanks to an innovative new program developed by the University of Maine and University of Maine at Machias. Students visited sites from Walpole to Eastport under the leadership of University of Maine Darling Marine Center… SEE MORE

A sailboat and cargo ship share the waters off Searsport.

Working Waterfront

Film screened in Belfast June 16 explores conflicting ocean uses

On Thursday, June 16 the film “A New England Story for Sustaining the Sea” will be shown at the Abbott Room of the Belfast Free Library. A discussion following the film will include two panelists familiar with the needs of stakeholders working to maintain the diverse uses of the ocean.… SEE MORE

A fisherman points to a part of a map included in the draft ocean plan.

Working Waterfront

Draft ocean plan suggests better data, coordination for users

The draft of a first-ever plan for the ocean was released May 25, launching a new way of considering a host of marine uses for the region from Connecticut to the Canadian border. Public meetings on the draft plan are scheduled in June for Portland, Rockland and Ellsworth. The 198-page… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Small, island-town values play well in big world

Benjamin Stevens of Islesford (Little Cranberry Island) graduated this month from Maine Maritime Academy in Castine. Every year, people from Maine’s islands buy all sorts of things. We buy clothes and shoes, tools and supplies, fuel and electricity, and groceries. Every island resident knows how challenging it is to get their… SEE MORE

Peter Willcox in the wheelhouse of a Greenpeace ship.

Working Waterfront

The dangerous work of bringing a green peace

Greenpeace Captain Macmillan, 2016 Big whales, bigger weather, young men at sea in rickety boats as underdogs in quixotic quests. It’s the stuff of good fiction. It’s also the story of Peter Willcox, who has traveled more than 400,000 miles at the helm of Greenpeace ships, through tropical storms and… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Tales from the boatyards

Boatbuilding on Mount Desert Island By Laurie Schreiber The History Press, 2016 In a small, once-isolated Maine community like Mount Desert Island, before it became a destination resort, boatbuilding was a necessity. Everyone lived on an island; roads were few or nonexistent; water was the way to get around the… SEE MORE