Penobscot Bay & River Pilots Association: Moving Large Ships within a Complex Coastal Environment in a Safe and Timely Manner

Authors

Jake Kritzer, NERACOOSFollow
David Gelinas, Penobscot Bay & River Pilots AssociationFollow
Neal Pettigrew, University of MaineFollow
Riley Young-Morse, Gulf of Maine Research InstituteFollow

BOOC Keywords

navigation safety, marine pilots, Midcoast Maine, Gulf of Maine, New England, metocean buoys

Abstract

The central coast of Maine is a convergence of marine commerce. The lucrative lobster fishery, ocean-based tourism, recreation, cargo shipping, and cruise ships all commingle amidst an intricate geography of bays, harbors, fjords, islands, and rivers. Throughout this complex coastline is a series of commercial, industrial, and residential ports – including Rockland, Belfast, Stonington, Bar Harbor, Bucksport, Searsport, and Bangor – that rely on safe and timely vessel transit. The Penobscot Bay & River Pilots Association (PBRPA) has the critical responsibility of safely moving cruise ships, tankers ships, and other large vessels to port through this maritime epicenter. To do their job, PBRPA relies on a network of ocean observing assets that deliver real-time data on sea state and weather and support oceanographic and meteorological forecast models.

Recommended Citation

Kritzer, Jake; Gelinas, David; Pettigrew, Neal; and Young-Morse, Riley (2025) "Penobscot Bay & River Pilots Association: Moving Large Ships within a Complex Coastal Environment in a Safe and Timely Manner," Benefits of Ocean Observing Catalog (BOOC): Vol. 3: Iss. 1, Article 9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15351/3068-2320.1131

Document Type

Article