As a Rockland resident, I have read the news articles concerning the introduction of mega-cruise ships into Rockland Harbor. After reading Sally Noble’sWorking Waterfront article on the Web (“Rockland to welcome 2,500 passenger cruise ship”) I was surprised by her cheery perspective, describing the megaship, Jewel of the Seas, arriving in Rockland October 4, as having “size and sparkle.”
Each day cruise ships, such as the Jewel of the Seas, produce up to 25,000 gallons of sewage from toilets, 143,000 gallons of sewage from sinks, galleys and showers, 7 tons of garbage and solid waste, 15 gallons of toxic chemicals, and 7,000 gallons of bilge water, (see http://oceana.org/north-america).According to Melisssa Waterman, in her June 25 column in the Free Press, due to our federal laws, cruise ships are allowed to dump their sewage waste just past a 3 mile limit from our shores and their raw sewage just 12 miles from shore. Gray water can be released one nautical mile from shore if ships are traveling at six knots. This is a grim picture indeed as we contemplate the impact cruise ships will have on Maine’s coastal waters, pristine shoreline, and struggling fisheries. It hardly seems that we are welcoming a jewel of the sea to Rockland!
Cruise ships will not only pollute our coastal waters, but could also ruin the character of our vibrant small town. After the fanfare surrounding the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce’s effort to have Rockland designated as the second-best “coolest town in America,” it is hard to understand why the chamber would choose to compromise the unique nature of our town by inviting mega-cruise ships to Rockland.
As is, the growing number of small cruise ships and the windjammer ships seem to be a good economic fit for Rockland. However, megaships, such as theJewel of the Seas, are a very different animal! Hordes of passengers will drive away local and summer residents and destination tourists who shop at Rockland’s stores and galleries, dine at our fine restaurants, and visit our museums. Peter Bass writes in issue 104 of Maine Boats,Homes, and Harbors Magazine, “Studies have shown that locals often avoid areas and businesses during peak shore side visits by roving packs of disembarked passengers. Unless locals check the ship schedules religiously, they are apt to avoid downtown at all times in fear that a ship might be in port.
As is evident in Bar Harbor, Key West, and towns in Alaska, trinket shops selling ticky-tacky touristy souvenirs will take over available downtown space changing the character of Rockland. Rockland’s small shop and restaurant owners who are eager for the cruise ship business may be disappointed as locals choose to shop and dine elsewhere and ship passengers look for low cost souvenirs and eat prepaid meals on board. On Oct. 4, the Jewel of the Seasweighs anchor at 7 p.m., just in time for dinner and drinks on board ship.
Economic studies concerning the financial benefits of cruise ships for local economies are unclear. Colin Woodard states in his column in the September issue of Working Waterfront that the expected income from Portland’s cruise ships is significantly lower than originally thought. Due to miscalculations in previous studies, it raises “the possibility that the city built Ocean Gateway (Portland’s cruise ship terminal) on the assumption that revenues to the region would be nearly twice what they actually are.”
Knowing exactly how much income a megaship brings to any port is difficult to determine. Some passengers do not leave the boat and others go on tours, spending money elsewhere. Courting tourists who come to Rockland as a destination vacation, plan to spend the night, and plan to take advantage of all Rockland has to offer, might be a much more lucrative business prospect than bringing in day-tripping passengers.
Cruise ships will also impact the significant number of affluent yachters who moor their boats in Rockland’s harbor. A blogger on MaineBoats.US cautions boaters not to moor their yachts in Bar Harbor, especially when the cruise ships are in, suggesting it is “better by far” to go around the corner to Northeast Harbor. Another serious economic issue is the likelihood of a hefty tax increase in order to pay for the infra-structure required to accommodate megaships. There are serious, economic trade offs we need to consider before we start counting megaship dollars!
According to an article by Sally Noble (“New rules help Bar Harbor cope with cruise ships,” Working Waterfront, July issue) Bar Harbor is cutting back on the number and size of cruise ships allowed to dock. The town is re-routing tour buses to the center of town, and hiring “greeters” to meet the buses to encourage shopping. As is, they are finding that cruise ship tourists are going back to the ships and not shopping!
Bar Harbor invested in an $80,000 study to determine how to manage the impact of the megaships on their small town. They are struggling with problems running the gamut of cruise ship water and air pollution to managing waterfront space to accommodate locals as well as the cruise ship passengers. It is unimaginable that the city of Rockland would consider placing us in a similar predicament, particularly when we are the second coolest small town in America!
The influx of day trippers from megaships will change life as we know it in Rockland. One has to worry about the impact of cruise ship pollution on our local fisheries, particularly the lobster industry. On shore, we also have serious concerns. Locals, summer residents, and visiting pleasure boaters who are drawn to Rockland would most likely go elsewhere. Retirees looking for a year round Maine community and with their life savings in their pockets will think twice before choosing a megaship town! Many of us, who have already moved into Rockland for the advantage of being within walking distance of our great downtown, will seriously consider packing our bags.
We are at a critical crossroads. Rockland’s community and community leaders have worked tirelessly to get us where we are today and their many accomplishments are truly outstanding. Now is the time to build on our strengths, rather than selling out for a quick financial fix in a poor economy. There are innumerable ways to promote Rockland and still maintain our quality of life. Let’s hope the Chamber of Commerce re-evaluates the wisdom of allowing megaships and all they bring with them into Rockland’s Harbor. Our small town atmosphere and clean coastal waters are our greatest resource! Let’s not sell them down the river! Hopefully, members of our community and its many active organizations will join together to take long look at the issues surrounding megaships in Rockland. We can all work together for a good outcome that allows for thoughtful development and at the same time preserves the quality of life we enjoy in Rockland today.
Sally Wylie is a Rockland resident.