Working Waterfront

Second, larger cruise ship bound for Eastport

By Tom Walsh A second massive cruise ship—the 11-deck Norwegian Sun—may soon tie up within the Bay of Fundy at a temporary berth being offered by the Eastport Port Authority. On June 14, the 785-foot cruise ship Oceana Riviera arrived from Miami without passengers, staffed by 131 crew members who… SEE MORE

This image from the National Fisherman photo collection at the Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport shows men harvesting herring

Working Waterfront

The last sardine run—a childhood foretelling

Excerpted from Fighting Pollution and Climate Change: An EPA Veteran’s Guide, How to Join in Saving our Life on Planet Earth,by Richard W. Emory Jr.; www.fightingpollutionbook.com;BookLocker Publishing, December 2019 By Richard Emory Jr. At the sounding of the horn, some women—permanent residents of our little town—grabbed their sharpest knives and rushed out… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Coast offers climate mitigation potential

By Susie Arnold Determining Maine’s carbon budget is a key first step in meeting Gov. Janet Mill’s 2019 pledge of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. Recent estimates coming out of the Maine Climate Council point to an under-recognized asset in the quest to becoming “carbon neutral”—vegetated coastal ecosystems. Carbon neutrality… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Economy should focus on entrepreneurs

By Tom Groening If you had to describe Maine’s economy to someone who had never visited, what would you say? The caveat, of course, is the answer should reflect the state of the economy on, say, Jan. 1, not today. Another question, admittedly nearly impossible to answer, is: What will… SEE MORE

The 785-foot-long cruise ship Ocean Rivieria arrived at Eastport's breakwater on Sunday

Working Waterfront

Oceania Riviera dwarfs tiny Eastport

Note: This story was updated June 16. By Tom Walsh//Photos by Leslie Bowman The June 14 arrival of the 785-foot cruise ship Oceania Riviera at its temporary berth on Eastport's downtown breakwater more than quadrupled the size of the Washington County city’s tallest buildings. "There are 131 souls aboard," said Chris Gardner, executive… SEE MORE

This file image shows Bar Harbor's town landing

Working Waterfront

Governor’s order would kill Bar Harbor businesses, say owners

By Jacqueline Weaver Editor's note: Since this story was published in the June edition, Gov. Janet Mills has offered an alternative plan to the 14-day quarantine for out-of-state visitors. Bar Harbor business owners, from restaurants and shops to hotels and vacation rentals, are reeling from an executive order by Gov.… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Maine can vote to close the digital divide

Seventeen houses. I don’t feel our list of “needs” was unusual for first-time homebuyers. Yet, in March and April of last year, my husband and I trudged through the snow and mud in 17 dooryards to finally find the home that would become ours. It ticked the top priority boxes—right… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

From fishing to farming—scallops (and goats)

For some fishermen, Maine’s aquaculture industry has been a thorny subject that includes concerns like navigational safety and environmental health. But as a third-generation fisherman, Marsden Brewer of Stonington sees the development of a new scallop farming sector as an opportunity for fishermen to diversify their income streams, maintain a… SEE MORE

A Maine Department of Transportation dump truck pulls off of the Downeast Sunrise Trail

Working Waterfront

Machias confronts frequent tidal floods

By Sarah Craighead Dedmon State snowplows descended on Machias the morning after an April storm, but they weren’t there to remove spring snow. Instead, they plowed debris from the Machias River, deposited during a violent storm and spring tide. It was the second time in four months plows removed seaweed… SEE MORE

The hands of Skip Collins at Spartan Marine.

Working Waterfront

Spartan Marine, stuck in the Bronze Age

Skip Collins in the Spartan Marine shop. Story//Photos by Kelli Park In a world churning with change, there is a workshop in a cove in Georgetown where the strength of bronze has withstood the test of time. Spartan Marine makes the case that there are some things better left unchanged.… SEE MORE