Rockland is permitting extra cruise ships
Rockland officers voted Monday night time to permit extra cruise ships to dock and anchor within the harbor.
The Rockland Metropolis Council unanimously handed an ordinance Monday night time to extend the variety of small ships with fewer than 500 passengers allowed to berth within the harbor from two to 3, and permit one massive ship of as much as 3,000 passengers to berth per week throughout September and October.
The unique limits have been put in place in 2018 in response to the growing quantity of cruise ships coming to Rockland whereas it grew as a vacationer vacation spot. However the metropolis is shifting in a distinct route than different tourism hubs in Maine. A number of Bar Harbor companies are suing the city for limiting cruise ship passengers to 1,000 per day, arguing the cap breaks federal regulation.
Below the change, Rockland Harbor may see as much as three extra massive ships in the course of the September and October interval, plus the extra small ships. Metropolis Supervisor Tom Luttrell mentioned the rise wasn’t proposed due to adjustments in infrastructure or capability, however as a result of the harbor grasp and Harbor Administration Fee determined to revise the wording to raised mirror maritime and cruise business requirements. Within the course of, they allowed a couple of extra ships.
“It’s simply the mindset of the Harbor Administration Fee,” Luttrell mentioned. “They have been attempting to wash the language as much as make it extra comprehensible. I suppose the language was previous and didn’t make a lot sense for what we will truly do at present.”
On the Wednesday agenda-setting assembly, Rockland Mayor Louise MacLellan-Ruf expressed considerations over the variety of ships to be allowed in Rockland Harbor.
“We don’t wish to change into Bar Harbor,” MacLellan-Ruf mentioned. “We will’t afford it.”
Harbor Grasp Molly Eddy mentioned on the Wednesday assembly that she doesn’t anticipate seeing many extra ships coming in, however Rockland can deal with any addition. The coverage change would exclude small worldwide ships that want a safe port, since they usually don’t carry sufficient income to justify the assets. Rockland doesn’t see many of those ships anyway.
Eddy mentioned on the Monday assembly that the cash these cruise ships usher in helps pay for much-needed infrastructure enhancements for the harbor, together with new floats. She mentioned the Harbor Administration Fee will proceed to watch and alter the coverage as wanted.
