A cruise ship looms over a view of West Street

Working Waterfront

Cruise ship tourism appears grounded

By Tom Walsh The global, seven-seas cruise ship industry has run aground. The curious role cruise ships have played as global infection vectors for the COVID-19 pandemic has resuscitated the pejorative description of cruise ships as “floating Petri dishes” for disease incubation. “I think we’ve reached the point where we… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Fishermen report changes they’re seeing on the water

We conducted very random interviews with fishermen at the annual Maine Fishermen's Forum in March, asking them what evidence of climate changes they are seeing on the water. PHOTOS BY KELLI PARK Terry Alexander of Cundy’s Harbor fishes for groundfish and squid out of Boston. “Stuff’s shifting, for sure,” he… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Good reasons to eat (and live) on an island

By Sandy Oliver Recently, three days spent on the mainland prompted ponderings about what it would be like to live and eat there. For 30-something years now, I’ve eaten three meals a day on-island, the vast majority of them home-cooked by myself, or friends and neighbors. The exceptions are a… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Earth Day turns 50, and it’s more complicated than ever

By Philip Conkling One of the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic is that the fates of humans across the globe are inextricably linked. Fifty years ago, the idea our lives depended on linkages with the natural world was a central part of the message of the first Earth Day and… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

A fully engaging read on half-modeling

Half-Hull Modeling: Step-by-step companion, from plans to finished model By Greg Rossel/Greg Rossel Boat Carpentry Reviewed by David D. Platt We’ve all admired half-hull models of ships and small boats. Some of us have wondered why and for whom they were made. Still fewer of us have asked how this… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Will Portland choke on its success?

By Tom Groening What if Portland wasn’t in Maine? What if the state’s border with New Hampshire fell along the shore of the Royal River in Yarmouth, instead of along the Piscataqua? Or what if Portland were somehow transported to the area near Newburyport, Mass.? What would be lost? It’s… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Maine Islands Coalition—a much-needed network

By Roger Berle The Maine Islands Coalition, or MIC, was formed in 2003 when residents of some year-round Maine Coast islands felt insecure as individual communities dealing with a series of external threats. In Casco Bay at the time, proposals to build liquid natural gas terminals loomed as a major… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Luke’s Lobster offers e-commerce for seafood

Luke’s Lobster has launched an e-commerce platform to offer a number of Luke’s seafood products direct-to-consumer. See: https://lukeslobster.getbento.com/shop-lukes/ This addition comes amid the COVID-19 pandemic as most of Luke’s Lobster shacks nationwide have temporarily closed. In an effort to keep as many jobs as possible, and support its fishermen, Luke’s… SEE MORE

The Matanuska is designed to carry 450 passengers and has a vehicle capacity of approximately 83

Working Waterfront

Stranded: Alaskan islanders see sharp cuts to ferry service

By Ari Snider Even under normal circumstances, getting to and from Tenakee Springs, a small island town in Southeast Alaska, is no cakewalk. Alaska Seaplanes flies twice daily to Juneau, the capital city, but that’ll run you upwards of $300 roundtrip, and storms can ground planes for days or even… SEE MORE

A drone view of the 1-million-square-feet of mill space in Biddeford.

Working Waterfront

Biddeford: From 19th century mill town to ‘Brooklyn North’

By Tom Groening This is the first in a series of stories about coastal towns facing challenges. Most towns would boast about hosting a college, and Biddeford is no different in its pride in having the University of New England within its borders. After all, being a college town brings… SEE MORE