Articles
Falling Dominoes – How little things add up to a big problem
Recently, the Coast Guard concluded its investigation into why the five-year-old, 35-foot mussel dragger LITTLE RASPY, of Jonesport, capsized and sank on Dec. 14, 2000, and why Capt. Dwayne A. Smith, 21, of West Jonesport; Dawson E. Allen, 22, of Jonesport; and Michael A. Laytart, 39, of Addison; the three fishermen aboard her, lost their
Full Mission Simulation – In a Wizard of Oz setting, students learn ship handling
“When you walk in the door, you have to have a sense of, `wow!’ ” said Maine Maritime Academy’s [MMA] Sam Teel, Marine Transportation Dept. Chairman, who designed the school’s new Bridge Simulation Center. He seems to have succeeded. The ship-like windows on the doors at the facility’s entrance and the narrow, angled, ship-like corridor
New port security specialist has varied background
Arn Heggers, who for the past four years has been Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Examiner for the Marine Safety Office in Portland, took on a new job in July, that of Civilian Coast Guard Port Security Specialist for Portland’s Marine Safety Office. The 50-year-old former Coast Guard officer seems well qualified for this position; in
Edgecomb broker, 85, is dean of Maine’s marine real estate business
“I thought a pound was, you buy a lobster and sit down and eat it,” said 85-year-old marine realtor Ralph Lombardi, recalling the time a potential client said he wanted to buy a lobster pound. At the time, Lombardi was new to Maine and to the possibilities inherent in such a request, though he’d been
A thinking man’s lobsterboat, Leroy Bridges builds the boat he’s always wanted
A commercial fisherman’s boat is probably the most important thing he owns; his life and his livelihood depend upon it. So, throughout his career, he changes vessels as he changes how and where and in what fisheries he earns his living; and he upgrades and downgrades size and equipment as necessary. Some fishermen own as
Early Start:Teenage fishermen learn skills in school
Five young businessmen will be graduating from Deer Isle-Stonington High School in June. They’re lobstermen. Fishing has run in their families for generations, all have been fishing since they were tadpoles, and, when you consider an average cost of a boat at $60,000, around 500 traps at $60 each, and a truck, rope and buoys,
The Deadly “Ifs”: Coast Guard Reports Analyze Fatal Vessel Accidents
Between January 2000 and January 2001, four commercial fishing vessels from Maine sank and nine fishermen lost their lives at sea – unusually high numbers. After each incident involving vessels sinking and/or loss of life at sea, the U.S. Coast Guard analyzes the probable causes and contributing factors, and publishes a report of the investigation
Dissecting Stonington’s Character
Concord, NH: Accompany, 2003 Dissecting Stonington’s Character “It’s all about fishing, but not about fish,” says producer John Gfroerer of his video about Deer Isle and Stonington. Gfroerer, whose video production company, Accompany, is based in Concord, NH, makes documentaries on various New Hampshire and Maine towns, collecting stories about the people and places that
Video Promotes Care in Handling Lobsters
Most people have no idea of the lobster’s fragility. Its hard shell, spines and claws protect its delicate, highly perishable meat. But properly cared for, lobsters can live out of water for up to two days. Because it’s important to handle and protect these sensitive, expensive creatures every step of the way from ocean waters
“I Done Well”: Conary Cove Lobster Co. Survives and Thrives
“If we could row, we had traps out,” declared Basil Heanssler of his start in the lobster business. The youngest of three sons of a Sunshine Island poundkeeper, he’d hauled those first traps at age six or seven. (Sunshine is connected to Deer Isle as is Little Deer Isle, by a winding, boulder-lined causeway.) Heanssler