USCG-led discussion 2/20/18 on federal anchorage plan off Owls Head at Rockland HMC mtg AUDIO

Listen below to Rockland's Harbor Management Commission getting a briefing by  US Coast Guard officials on the status of the Penobscot Bay & River Pilots's application to the USCG for formal designation of a Federal Anchorage off Broad Cove, on the northwest side of Owls Head

Many of the issues raised at the 2/20/18 meeting echoed concerns of citizens at the 
 January 30, 2018 public  meeting.  There, two state legislators  Senator Dave Miramant and Representative Pinny Beebe-Center agreed to track the project and inform constituents as the project moved ahead.

Meeting audio

1. Introduction and public comments 6 min

2. Introduction to USCG speakers 1minute

3.USCG presentation and QA 1 6min 52sec

4. USCG presentation and QA 2. 8min 45sec 

5. USCG presentation and QA 3. 9min 12sec

6. USCG presentation and QA 4 10min

7. USCG presentation and QA 5. 10min 43sec

8. Full  meeting 54min 

Fed anchorage off Owls Head, bill exempting Canadian ferries from using pilots, discussed 1/31/18 at Rockland Town Hall mtg.

ROCKLAND.   Listen below to Rockland's State Representative Pinny Beebe-Center and State Senator Dave Miramant  discuss  an anchorage plan and a pilotage bill at a well attended "Town Hall" event in Rockland Council Chambers on the evening of December 1st.

Pilotage  Bill  The kegislators and public  had a a 6 minute discussion on the bill  discussed LD 1752  "An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Pilotage Requirements for Passenger Ferry Service between Maine and Nova Scotia"  LD 1752 would allow Canadian ferries to go  in and out of Bar Harbor without pilots if their captains had completed "a minimum of 15 round trips of ingress and egress".and on the need for ships' pilots to guide human cargo to Maine's ports as well as ships bearing petroleum and other cargoes  

Federal anchorage proposal This was initiated by  the Penobscot Bay & River Pilots's submission to the Coast Guard. Listen to the 2 legislators and a very concerned public discuss for 21 minutes the federal anchorage proposal  to USCG by Pen Bay Pilots for off Owls Head

Owls Head waters getting federalized. Listen to 12/12/17 meeting on federal anchorage proposal.

Are Owls Head's outer waters getting Federalised?

Listen to a 14 minute discussion, (mp3)  at the 12/12/17 Rockland Harbor Mgmt Commission meeting, on a plan to designate a federal anchorage area off Owls Head, to facilitate cruise ships bringing passengers to Rockland Harbor

Rockland Harbor civic boundaries, Rockport, Rockland & Owls Head

 Penobscot Bay & River Pilots Association has asked the US Coast Guard to designate the waters of Owls Head's Broad Cove as  a Federal Anchorage Area,  specifically to facilitate projected increases in visits to Rockland Harbor  by large cruise ships. Read  July 6, 2017 submission to USCG by David Gelinas  president of Penobscot Bay & River Pilots

On December 12, 2017 the Rockland Harbor Management Commission had a  discussion of  the Federal Anchorage proposal. LISTEN TO THE 14 MINUTE DISCUSSION (mp3)

Gelinas, a veteran ships pilot, told the Coasties that rising cruise ship traffic  to Penobscot bay calls for  more methodical  management of anchorage use by oversized cruise ships  at the mouth of Rockland Harbor. much of which is within the town borders of Owls Head.

"Not only are the numbers of cruise ships on the increase," Gelinas wrote "but the average size of such vessels is on the increase as well. Having a larger, dedicated anchorage area will assist in keeping this traffic coming to our state, and will serve all mariners with a clear illustration of where such vessels will likely anchor when coming to Penobscot Bay."