USS Zumwalt, DDG 1000, Largest USN Destroyer on Sea Trials

The USS Zumwalt, DDG 1000, the largest and most expensive destroyer ever built for the US Navy, headed down the Kennebeck River from Bath Iron Works, in Bath, Maine yesterday, on its way to sea trials in the open Atlantic. Depending … Continue reading

The Strange Saga of the Fake Pirate Ship, Liana’s Ransom — Rescue and Two Dismastings

On Monday, the US Coast Guard rescued nine crew members from the schooner, Liana’s Ransom, off the coast of Maine, after the schooner suffered engine failure and her sails became fouled. There are now reports that the schooner also lost … Continue reading

Supermaxi Comanche on Sea Trials

I have mixed feeling about modern supermaxi monohulls. They are complicated, expensive sailing wedges — pointy in the bow and broad and flat on the stern.  But they are really fast, and watching Jim Clark‘s new 100’ carbon fiber speed-demon … Continue reading

No Bids for Schooner Nathaniel Bowditch; Schooner Timberwind Leaving Rockport

Sadly, just before Christmas, the schooner Nathaniel Bowditch, owned by Owen and Cathie Dorr, was seized at its Rockland Harbor berth in Lermond Cove by U.S. Marshals and towed to Camden Harbor, Maine.  The Nathaniel Bowditch is one of the … Continue reading

Google’s Giant Magical Mystery Barges — Data Centers, Google Glass Stores or Borg Ships?

Google has been causing quite a stir on the waterfront.  Two mysterious barges have appeared, one on the Pacific in San Francisco bay and one on the Atlantic coast in Portland, Maine. The San Francisco barge is reported to be 250 feet … Continue reading

Tug Benjamin Bailey Rolls on Piscataqua River, Two Escape

On Wednesday afternoon, the tug Benjamin Bailey rolled and suddenly capsized in the currents of the Piscataqua River. Fortunately the two crew men aboard managed to escape from the sudden capsize. The tug is owned by Ken Anderson of Riverside … Continue reading

Fire on Nuclear Submarine USS Miami in Maine Shipyard

Crew responded to a fire on the nuclear submarine, USS Miami,  at around 5:40 PM last night at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine.  This morning, the Navy reports that the fire has been put put. Three shipyard firefighters, two civilian firefighters … Continue reading

Voices of the Sea: The Poetry and Song of Maine’s Fishermen and Those Who Work on the Water

Not long ago, we posted about the Fisher Poets Gathering in Astoria, Oregon.  There are indeed fisherman poets on all coasts and this Thursday, March 15th, the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Maine is hosting “Voices of the Sea: The Poetry and Song … Continue reading

The Ruth Montgomery Collection at the Penobscot Marine Museum

The Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport, Maine documents the rich and deep maritime history of the region and the town that was famous for its ship captains. The museum has a wonderful set of on-line, searchable, photography collections documenting the area’s ships, … Continue reading

Lobster Trap Christmas Trees – Christmas Tradition & Friendly Competition

Lobster traps, also known as lobster pots, are ubiquitous around the coastal towns of New England. Around this time of year, Christmas trees built from stacked lobster pots rise in many towns along the coast. With fishermen being fishermen, a friendly competition between the … Continue reading