Penobscot Bay Blog

Jul 5, 2018

Searsport Shipping News 2017 Aug. 30 - Sept. 14, 2017

Shipping News Aug. 30 - Sept. 14 2017

Sep 15, 2017

Photo by: Ethan AndrewsBrooke Chapman, a tugboat traveling from New York with a fuel barge, arrives in Searsport Sept. 6.

Searsport's Mack Point Cargo Terminal and Bucksport were quiet for a full week, with no ship traffic from Aug. 29 through Sept. 5.

Sept. 6

Brooke Chapman, a tug owned and operated by Kirby Corp., arrived at Mack Point from New York with a fuel barge. Type of fuel unknown. It departed Sept. 8, returning to New York.

Sept. 10

Genesis Liberty, a tug owned and operated by Genesis Energy, arrived at Mack Point from New York, via Boston. Type of fuel unknown. It departed the next morning for New York.

Sept. 14

Iver Prosperity, an oil tanker coming from Saint John, NB, anchored near Mack Point, en route to Bucksport.

Shipping news is compiled by Republican Journal reporter Ethan Andrews using automatic identification system (AIS) data from marinetraffic.com and direct observation at local ports.

Oil tanker Iver Prosperity drops anchor near Mack Point in Searsport Sept. 14. The ship arrived from Saint John, NB, and was bound for Bucksport. (Photo by: Ethan Andrews)

Searsport Shipping News 2018, Jan. 10 - 26, 2018

Shipping news, Jan. 10 - 26

Commercial marine traffic at Searsport and Bucksport

Jan 27, 2018

Photo by: Ethan AndrewsTugboat Genesis Glory passes Saturday Cove in Northport Jan. 16, en route to Searsport towing a fuel barge, out of frame at right.

Jan. 12

B. Franklin Reinauer, an articulated tug and fuel barge operated by Reinauer Transportation of Staten Island, N.Y., arrived in Searsport from New York via Portsmouth, N.H., and picked up a load of heating oil. It departed Jan. 14 for Portland.

Jan. 14

East Coast, a 600-foot Irving Oil tanker, arrived in Searsport from Saint John, New Brunswick, and delivered gasoline, No. 2 fuel oil and ultra-low-sulfur diesel. It departed Jan. 15 for Portland.

Jan. 15

Mount Travers, a 555-foot Pacific Basin Shipping bulk carrier, arrived in Searsport from Albany, N.Y., and picked up scrap metal from Grimmel Industries. It departed Jan. 17 for an unspecified port on the Mediterranean Sea.

Jan. 16

Genesis Glory, a Genesis Energy tug with fuel barge, arrived in Searsport from New York and delivered ethanol. It departed Jan. 17 for Portland.

Jan. 17

Ruth M. Reinauer, an articulated tug and fuel barge operated by Reinauer Transportation of Staten Island, N.Y., arrived in Searsport from New York and picked up No. 2 heating oil. It departed Jan. 18, for Portland.

Jan 18

Great Eastern, a 600-foot Irving Oil tanker, arrived in Bucksport from Saint John, New Brunswick, via Portland and delivered jet fuel. It departed Jan. 19 for Saint John.

C. Angelo, a tug with bulk barge operated by Gateway Towing of New Haven, Conn., arrived in Searsport from New Haven and picked up road salt. It departed Jan. 21 for New Haven.

Jan. 19

Chemical Pioneer, a 662-foot chemical tanker, arrived in Searsport from Jacksonville, Fla., and delivered caustic soda. It departed Jan. 29 for Portland.

Jan. 20

Brooke Chapman, a Kirby Corp. tug with fuel barge, arrived in Searsport from New York and delivered No. 6 oil. It left Mack Point Jan. 22 and anchored near Northport until Jan. 25, then returned to New York.

Ruth M. Reinauer returned to Searsport after a quick round-trip to Portland (see Jan. 17) and picked up a second load of No. 2 heating oil. It departed Jan. 25, destination not available.

Jan. 21

High Challenge, a 600-foot oil/chemical tanker, arrived in Searsport from Antwerp, Belgium, and delivered No. 2 heating oil. It departed Jan. 26 for Portland.

Jan. 24

Denali, a Kirby Corp. tug with fuel barge, arrived in Searsport from Perth Amboy, N.J. via Portland and delivered ethanol. It departed Jan. 27 for Boston.

Shipping news is compiled by Republican Journal reporter Ethan Andrews using automatic identification system (AIS) data from marinetraffic.com, local sources and direct observation at ports.

Oil tanker Great Eastern approaches Temple Heights in Northport Jan. 18 on its way to Bucksport. (Photo by: Ethan Andrews)

A claw opens above the hold of the bulk carrier ship Mount Travers at Mack Point in Searsport Jan. 15 while Irving Oil tanker East Coast, partially visible, makes a delivery at the terminal's fuel dock. (Photo by: Ethan Andrews)

Bulk carrier Mount Travers and oil tranker East Coast (background) at Mack Point Cargo Terminal in Searsport Jan. 15. (Photo by: Ethan Andrews)

Tugboat C. Angelo heads to Searsport with a bulk cargo barge Jan. 18 to pick up a load of salt bound for New Haven, Conn. (Photo by: Ethan Andrews)

Comments (1)

POSTED BY: KENNETH W HALL | Jan 27, 2018 10:09

12 ships in 12 days!!!!!!!!!! How wonderful to see this type of traffic at our port.

Maybe 2018 will the year the Port will finally become a working Port where is diversifies beyond a seasonal product. So there can continue to be this kind of traffic. I have NO doubt the employees, their unions, and the Town would like to see growth that brings this much ship traffic year round!

Seeing the Port grow beyond 75% petroleum products and diversify, so when or if petroleum products become an energy secondary source, the Port would not be a casualty of it's own lack of diversification.

Searsport Shipping News 2017. Aug. 22 - 30, 2017

Shipping news, Aug. 22 - 30

Aug 30, 2017

Photo by: Ethan AndrewsIrving Oil tanker Great Eastern passes under the Penobscot Narrows Bridge Aug. 29 on its way from Searsport to Bucksport.

Aug. 25

Genesis Liberty, a tug owned and operated by Genesis Energy, arrived with a fuel barge at Searsport, coming from New York, via Portland. Type of fuel unknown.

Aug. 28

Great Eastern, a 600-foot Irving Oil tanker, arrived in Searsport from Saint John, New Brunswick. The next day, it traveled up the Penobscot River to Bucksport and departed Aug. 30 for Portland.

It was a quiet week for commercial shipping traffic in the Midcoast. So we checked in on a few ships that visited Mack Point since we launched this column in July.

Falcon Nostos, an oil tanker that delivered to Searsport July 9, traveled far north to Baker Lake in Nunavut Province of Canada. On the return trip south, it made a brief stop in St. John's, Newfoundland, then continued directly to the Gulf of Mexico. On Aug. 30, it was in ballast (empty), headed for Corpus Christi, Texas.

Tanja, a bulk carrier of unknown cargo at Mack Point July 29, stopped in South Portland and Grand Anse, New Brunswick, before heading south to Vila do Conde, Brazil. On Aug. 30, it was laden (carrying cargo), anchored at the east end of the Panama Canal.

Clipper Tarpon, a cargo ship that delivered wind turbine components for Canton Mountain Wind in Western Maine July 16, crossed the Atlantic, and after a long layover in the Canary Islands, traveled to Koper, Slovenia, then through the Suez Canal to the Indian Ocean, where it made an overnight stop at the port of Colombo, Sri Lanka. On Aug. 30, it continued in ballast (empty), headed for Adelaide, Australia.

Shipping news is compiled by Republican Journal reporter Ethan Andrews using automatic identification system (AIS) data from marinetraffic.com and direct observation at local ports.

Where do the ships go after visiting Searsport? JS Yangtse delivered salt here in July, then traveled to Norfolk, Va. before heading across the Atlantic. On Aug. 29, it was in the Mediterranean Sea, headed for Savona, Italy. (Photo by: Ethan Andrews)

Searsport Shipping News 2017. , Aug. 15 - 22, 2017

Shipping news, Aug. 15 - 22

Aug 24, 2017

Photo by: Ethan AndrewsIrving Oil tanker Great Eastern at Mack Point cargo terminal in Searsport Aug. 19.

Aug. 16

Torenia, a 620-foot bulk carrier, departed Mack Point for Norfolk, Va., after delivering road salt.

Aug. 18

Great Eastern, a 600-foot Irving Oil tanker, arrived at Mack Point from Saint John, New Brunswick, and departed early Aug. 20 for Boston.

Aug. 19

Denali, a Kirby Corp. tugboat, arrived in Bucksport from Delaware City, Del., pushing a fuel barge. It departed late Aug. 20 for New York.

Aug. 20

Chemical Pioneer, a 660-foot chemical tanker, returned to Mack Point via Jacksonville, Fla. The tanker last visited Searsport July 23, then traveled south to New York, New Jersey, Port Charles, La., Houston, and finally hit Jacksonville on the way back to Maine. It departed Mack Point Aug. 21 for New York.

Shipping news is compiled by Republican Journal reporter Ethan Andrews using automatic identification system (AIS) data from marinetraffic.com and direct observation at local ports.

Tugboat Denali enters Bucksport Harbor, pushing a fuel barge Aug. 19. (Photo by: Ethan Andrews)

Chemical Pioneer, a 660-foot chemical tanker passes Temple Heights in Northport Aug. 21, leaving Penobscot Bay after an overnight stop in Searsport. (Photo by: Ethan Andrews)

Jun 28, 2018

Maine land-based salmon farming. Business, State and federal officials involved

INDUSTRY Contacts

Nordic Aquafarms

Erik Heim, CEO Nordic Aquafarms, Inc. erik.heim@nordicaquafarms.com

Public affairs Ted O’Meara ted@tedomearacommunications.com

+47 900 74 907 (207) 653-2392

Whole Oceans

Robert Piaiso CEO (207) 747-1400

Ben Willauer CDO bwillauer@wholeoceans.com

Jennifer Fortier Outreach & Development Associate (207) 747-1400

Bill Taylor of Pierce Atwood 207) 791-1100 WO's Attorney

STATE

Maine DEP Gregg Wood Gregg.Wood@maine.gov

* General Application Form for Waste Discharge Permit

* Fish Rearing Facilities

*Food Processing Facilities

* Outfall Application Form

Inland Fish & Wildlife ? Bureau of Resource Mgmt (207) 287-8000

DMR Jon Lewis Aquaculture Div dir jon.lewis@maine.gov 633-9594 Maine Coastal Program Kathleen Leyden. kathleen.leyden@maine.gov 287-3144 cell: 557-4014

* Agriculture Conservation and Forestry Michele Walsh, Maine State Veterinarian Michele.walsh@maine.gov; (207) 287-7615

http://www.maine.gov/dacf/ahw/animal_health/landbased-aquaculture.shtml

FEDS

* Army Corps of Engineers - 2 staff

Nordic Peter Tischbein.623-8367 ext 3 Peter.Tischbein@usace.army.mil

Whole Oceans Shawn Mahaney .623-8367 shawn.b.mahaney@usace.army.mil

* EPA Danielle Gaito (gaito.danielle@epa.gov) (617) 918-1297

*NMFS Max Tritt Fishery Biologist for Maine Atlantic Salmon.

207-866-7322. max.tritt@noaa.gov

* US FWS Wende Mahaney Wende_Mahaney@fws.gov
(207) 902-1569 Maine Field office

Land-based salmon farming in Maine - how oversight went from DMR to DACF

On November 11, 2017, Maine PUBLIC LAW 2017 CHAPTER 94 came into effect.
Titled An Act To Transfer Responsibility for Licensing of Landbased Aquaculture from the Department of Marine Resources to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry" It describes the authority for the transfer to the land agriculture agency and how it will decide how safe these are.

Says Department of Agriculture Conservation and Forestry will deny land based salmon aquaculture licenses, if either DMR or IFW informs DACF "that the aquaculture activity presents an unreasonable risk to indigenous marine or freshwater life or its environment." Sounds like a strongish standard (no "unreasonable risk"), but only as strong as the information that the agencies have to determine its reasonableness or unreasonableness. Given tthis is new hitherto unused technology, it won't be easy.

Text of Public Law 2017 Ch 94 Law:
(Sentences separated for ease of reading)

"Transfers authority for the licensing of land-based aquaculture from the Department of Marine Resources and Inland Fisheries & Wildlife to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

"The Commissioner of DACF shall refuse to issue a license if the Commissioner receives information from the Commissioner of either DMR or DIFW that the aquaculture activity presents an unreasonable risk to indigenous marine or freshwater life or its environment.

"The risk factors that DMR and DIFW shall consider include but are not limited to: risk of accidental or intentional introduction of marine or freshwater organisms, or organism products, into the waters of the State, risk of the introduction or spread of disease within the State and interference with the enforcement of possession, size or season limits for wild marine or freshwater organisms.
"
The Commissioner of DACF shall monitor licensed facilities annually and if there are risks noted such as listed above the Commissioner shall notify DIFW and DMR"

(End )

Rocklanders crash 6/27/16 harbor commission/cruiseship industry meeting, take part. AUDIO MP3s

On June 27, 2018, a dozen people, including two journalists, ignored postings by Rockland

Harbormaster Matt Ripley and City Manager Tom Luttrell claiming that a meeting of city and state officials, held in the harbormaster's office 8 am was not open to the public.

Citing the Maine Open Meetings Law, they attended anyway. The meeting featured briefings by Amy Powers of MaineCruisePro and Cruise Lines International public relations VP Mike McGarry, followed by lengthy questions and answers sessions in which the uninvited-but- there-anyway public participated and networked with the other participants.

0. At request of Amy Powers,all attendees including puiblic introduce selves 1min15sec.

1. Introduction 1 Tom Luttrell. Rockland city manager 37 seconds

2. Introduction 2 Amy Powers 3min 33sec.

3 Michael McGarry Cruiselines International VP Govt & Public relations 2min 55sec

4. Questions and Answers

Q&A 1. 8 min 32sec

Q&A 2 10 min 35 sec

Q&A 3 7 min 57sec

Q&A 4 11min 38sec

Q&A 5 7min

Q&A 6. 8min 31sec

Q&A 7 to meeting end 8 min 18sec

Jun 17, 2018

2018

A Likely Scenario During a Future Winter i New England. Examining a new report on Maine's power grid performance from December 24, 2017 to January 8, 2018.