When a tug towing a barge grazed a bumper and a large salt ship crunched into another tug and barge near the Casco Bay Bridge this winter, no one seemed to take much notice. The Coast Guard dutifully interviewed everyone involved in both incidents and filed reports, but little more was said publicly. And as we found when we questioned some of the parties for a story in this issue, no one’s saying much now.
Perhaps the fact that no oil was spilled, no marine life impacted, meant no one cared. But such incidents, particularly if they involve the large number of tankers that transit Portland Harbor regularly, can be dangerous, expensive and environmentally damaging. If the systems designed to bring ships safely into and out of Portland Harbor aren’t working or need improvement, more public disclosure and discussion would be a good place to begin.