Tag Archives: Harpswell Harbormaster Paul Plummer

Sunken Harpswell fishing boat leaking oil, owner needs to take action

An 80-foot-long fishing boat is sitting at the bottom of New Meadows River in Harpswell, and it’s causing concern. It’s been underwater for 51 days. Harpswell Harbormaster Paul Plummer says they don’t exactly know how it sunk, but it happened during the historic January storms. Plummer says the current owner needs to step up. “The owner of the ship is responsible for whatever happens,” Plummer said. That includes the fee of removing that boat from the water and towing it piece by piece. Photos, Video, more, >>click to read<< 11:24

A sunken historic fishing boat is leaking fuel off Maine’s coast

Harpswell officials are working to raise a historic 83-foot fishing boat that’s been leaking oil in the New Meadows River after it was sunk by one of the twin storms that hit Maine’s coast in January. But it’s unclear who would pay for that work or how quickly it could happen. It’s also questionable whether a new owner would be able to save the boat once it’s recovered, although a relative of its original owner is making a longshot effort to do so. First built in 1949 by Newbert & Wallace in Thomaston, the Jacob Pike was a refrigerated vessel used to fish for and transport sardines. After the collapse of Maine’s sardine industry in the 1950s, the vessel was used to transport lobster, then pogies. more, >>click to read<< 09:30