Dirigo II

L to R: Captain Stewart Workman, SW Boatworks, Lamoine, Maine; Major Jon Cornish, Maine Marine Patrol; Col. Joe Fessenden, Maine Marine Patrol; Patrick Keliher, Commissioner, Department of Marine Resources. The launching ceremony for the Dirigo II was attended by about 75 people at Abel’s Boatyard on Somes Sound.  Fishermen’s Voice photo

Somes, MDI, January 15 The Maine Marine Patrol launched a new patrol boat at Abel’s Marina here today. The Dirigo II a 38’ Calvin Beal will be based in Coast Guard Station Southwest Harbor and patrol local, state and federal waters.

The $410,000 vessel was paid for with Joint Enforcement Funding through NOAA (80%) and the sale of the 35’ Dirigo I it replaced. Since the Dirigo II is used in the enforcement of federal laws, such as whale regulations, federal funding is available. Homeland Security funding since 2001 has significantly increased the amount of money available to coastal enforcement agencies. Marine Patrol Colonel Joseph Fessenden speaking at the launching ceremony said the DMR receives about $800,000 annually from NOAA. Joint Enforcement evolved out of post September 11th Homeland Security measures.

The lunching ceremony was attended by about 75 people including members of the Marine Patrol, the Maine Department of Marine Resources, under which the Marine Patrol operates, employees of SW Boatworks in Lamoine who built the boat, representatives of several local and national news organizations and the general public.

Addressing the crowd at the ceremony Colonel Fessenden noted that the complicated process of selecting, coordinating and ordering the many options and systems on a modern patrol vessel was made considerably easier by the efforts of SWBoatworks and Colin McDonald of the Marine Patrol. McDonald was commended for his hands on approach to researching the needs of the Marine Patrol and the vessel component options that would best meet them. He was awarded a plaque for his work on the project. Jim Patten at Nautilus Marine Fabrication said McDonald knew exactly what he wanted on the boat and often came to the Nautilus shop when they were fabricating parts for the Dirigo II.

The required formal and lengthy state bidding process and the twists and turns of the building process can be daunting and sometimes disappointing for contractors. In this case both the customer and the builder commented on the smooth and satisfactory process and results.

Captain Stewart Workman of SWBoatworks said he has developed a process by which customers are able to see what they will be getting and know what everything costs well in advance of laying the keel. He said the Marine Patrol’s Colin McDonald was very involved in working out details of what would work best on the boat, what the boat should be able to do and what equipment was to be included at the SWBoat shop in Lamoine. “During the year it took to build the boat McDonald maintained a line of communication between the DMR’s Augusta headquarters and the distant SWBoatworks in Lamoine. The result is a boat that will do what the Marine Patrol needs it to do,” said Colonel Fessenden.

DMR Commissioner Pat Keliher said the Dirigo II is one of six vessels of this type and size that patrol the Maine coast. The DMR has an additional five rigid inflatable patrol boats and a few smaller boats. The Dirigo II is equipped to carry one of the DMR’s inflatable boats in a custom rack across it’s stern. It is also equipped with various enforcement equipment and electronics. The boat is a rugged good looking boat. Some effort was given to details, but it is a utility boat built to perform specific tasks of the Marine Patrol. It will be based in Section 5 patroling between the Penobscot River and the Hancock Bridge.

CONTENTS