Maine man creates huge online ship database

Thousands of ships over hundreds of years have navigated the rolling waters of Maine’s Penobscot River across the street from Jon Johansen’s home.

Inspired by that history, Johansen set about documenting every ship ever built along the shores of the state’s largest river. What started as a modest endeavor has turned into a gargantuan undertaking: Johansen is attempting to create a database of virtually every vessel built in the United States.

So far, the maritime history buff says he has catalogued more than 50,000 vessels – from 20-foot lobster boats to modern-day warships.

But that’s only the start. In time, he plans to create a Web site with his gobs of information and call it the International Maritime Library. It’s his way, he says, of helping preserve a part of the nation’s rich maritime past.

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