Tag Archives: Brunswick
Iconic Brunswick shrimp boat sinks during Helene
The Dora F, the second oldest shrimp fishing vessel operating on the East Coast, broke free from its dock in Brunswick’s East River and sank as Helene unleashed her strongest winds on the Golden Isles early Friday morning. The vessel, captained by Johnny Ray Bennett, was tied to the Lady Raven and the City Market docks off of Bay Street during the storm, Bruce Collins of City Market said. The Lady Raven took on water and began to sink, putting pressure on and eventually snapping the line that lashed the Dora F to the dock, he said. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:52
Big crowd turns out for 86th Blessing of the Fleet
The 86th annual Blessing of the Fleet Saturday had a new wrinkle with the holy water coming from on high. During past blessings, Catholic priests have stood on the bows or decks of tow boats or other ships and showered fishing boats and pleasure craft with holy water and they pronounced blessings. On Saturday, Father Timothy McKeown of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, rode a Brunswick Fire Department ladder to a spot over the East River and blessed the passing vessels from above. 12 Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:42
The 85th Brunswick Blessing of the Fleet set for Saturday
Blessing the shrimp boat fleet annually is more than just a reason to host a festival. It’s a time-honored tradition brought to Brunswick by Portuguese immigrants. Jennifer Sullivan, events and marketing coordinator for the Brunswick Downtown Development Authority, said it was important when she took over planning the event a few years ago that the festival recognize that heritage. The 85th Brunswick Blessing of the Fleet is set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Mary Ross Waterfront Park in downtown Brunswick. >click to read< 10:39
Gurnet Trading has new owners with ties to Cundy’s Harbor
Two life-changing events convinced Brae and Scott Harley to buy Gurnet Trading Co., a popular seafood market and small restaurant in Brunswick, just across Gurnet Strait from Great Island. “It was kind of a sign,” said Brae. “My dad died the end of April (2022). We were trying to do something else before he passed. He died on a Wednesday and a week later, Scott had a stroke.” “I’m an accountant and had my own business for 30 years,” said Brae. “Scott is a lobsterman who started fishing with his father in kindergarten.” After her husband’s stroke, they needed to make a change. “This was up for sale. We thought we could be successful and so we pivoted.” >click to read< 08:07
Commerical fishing interest file suit against Golden Ray owner and salvager
A group of commercial fishermen filed a lawsuit Wednesday in federal court in Brunswick against the owner of the car carrier Golden Ray and the company that salvaged the shipwreck, the action coming a day before the three-year anniversary of the 656-foot vessel’s capsizing in the St. Simons Sound. The Golden Ray overturned in the predawn hours of Sept. 8, 2019, while heading out to sea with a cargo of 4,161 vehicles and an estimated 380,000 gallons of fuel in its tanks. Attorneys filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Brunswick on behalf of several dozen shrimpers, charter boat fishing guides and crabbers, claiming “willful misconduct, malice, fraud” and negligence on behalf of the those named has caused environmental damage to the sound. >click to read< 18:22
Threat of federal penalty spurs Brunswick, Harpswell to consider raising shellfish license fees
Brunswick and Harpswell are proposing higher fees for commercial shellfishing licenses in an effort to pre-empt possible legal action by the U.S. Department of Labor. Requiring licensed harvesters to work on specific conservation projects each year isn’t new for many municipalities. But the DOL has warned that the practice violates federal labor laws. Read the rest here 10:45
