Perry Marine plans to set up site in Eastport

A plan to fabricate and launch the base units for Ocean Renewable Power Company's tidal power system has taken a turn from Perry to Eastport, after the Perry proposal did not work out. The Perry Planning Board had granted approval for the project at Gleason's Cove on January 5, but Perry Marine & Construction LLC (PMC) withdrew its permit application to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection on January 7, after property boundary issues developed so that the project would not have sufficient access to the water.
PMC, which is a joint venture of Morrison Manufacturing Inc. of Perry and CPM Constructors of Freeport, has now entered into a purchase and sale agreement with Christina M. Fisheries for land off Staniels Road in Eastport, adjacent to the BASF property on Broad Cove. At the February 22 meeting of the Eastport Port Authority board, company representatives presented information about the proposal in order to obtain an easement to use the BASF property in order to gain access to the water. The port authority is under contract to purchase the BASF property, formerly owned by the Mearl Corp.
Paul Koziell, chief operating officer of CPM Constructors of Freeport, outlined that Morrison Manufacturing, along with other groups, would use the Staniels Road site in the fabrication of the 40' x 60' units for ORPC's TidGen power system. The units would be transported across the BASF property to Broad Cove and be placed on barges and deployed in Cobscook Bay. The base units are the frames that will rest on the sea floor and hold the tidal turbines. The easement from the port authority would be for an 80-foot ramp access, which leads to an old pier that would be reconstructed, with floats installed. BASF has approved use of the property during the interim period.
Aggregate from the rock being blasted at the Estes Head port terminal would be used to construct the ramp access way and the yard area on the Christina M. Fisheries land. PMC would pay for any increase in taxes caused as a result of the improvements. If PMC leaves the site, the easement would revert to the port authority.
Gerald Morrison of Morrison Manufacturing said the project will create at least six jobs, as his company would double its workforce.
Port Director Chris Gardner said that PMC would be approached about covering the cost of any environmental testing that would be necessary for the fill. He said the port authority would allow the easement for "minimal cost," because it is in the interest of business development.
The board voted to authorize the port director to continue negotiations with PMC to develop a right-of-way to the shore at the BASF property. The final agreement will need to be approved by the board. PMC hopes to begin operations at the site this spring.
Along with preliminary port authority approval, the Eastport Planning Board, on February 22, unanimously recommended rezoning that portion of the Christina M. Fisheries property that is currently rural residential to industrial, so that the entire property will be industrial.

Cows on the breakwater?
During the port authority meeting, Gardner noted that nine ships have loaded cargo at the port in the first eight weeks of 2011. The number of vessels has presented some scheduling problems, with a pulp and a cow ship vying for the same berth at one point. Sexing Technologies, which is shipping the cows, had to be asked to leave the berth, since the cow containers were not ready, and a pulp ship needed to be loaded. Following discussions with Juan Moreno of Sexing Technologies, it was agreed that the downtown breakwater could be used for loading cows onto a ship, if another scheduling conflict arises. Access to the breakwater would be limited in a manner similar to when a Navy ship is in port.
"These are great problems to have," noted Gardner. He added, "People love to see the cows," and having them loaded downtown may bring people to come see the operations. He stressed that the option is a back-up plan only.
Board member Bob Peacock noted that it might be possible to use the inside berth at the Estes Head pier, using the smaller tugboat, the Abaco, now that it is being repowered. "It may do the job, or it may not."

New warehouse pursued
All of the port activity has illustrated the need for additional warehousing for pulp in the immediate future. Gardner said the four warehouses at the port terminal "are just barely doing the job," as recently both the Woodland pulp mill and the warehouses were all completely full, and the mill wants to ship more pulp through the port.
Federal Marine Terminals Manager Skip Rogers noted that International Grand Investment Corporation (IGIC), which owns the Woodland mill, wants to bring in a more modern paper-making machine to the mill and begin producing paper again, which also would be shipped through the port.
Gardner reported that the port authority is taking steps to reduce the costs for a new warehouse by using T Buck Construction, which is excavating for the new bulk-cargo system, to prepare the area. The Department of Environmental Protection was expected to grant the necessary permits this week, although the port authority will have to pay a $65,000 fee for impacting wetlands. Gardner is exploring possible funding for the warehouse, which he estimated could cost $600,000 to $800,000. The board directed the port director to continue with the necessary permitting for a new warehouse and container yard.

Port authority legislation
Emergency legislation to qualify the port authority as tax exempt for bonding has been submitted by Rep. David Burns of Whiting. The bill would remove the requirement in the port authority's charter that the port authority obtain the consent of the Eastport City Council to acquire property in the city, which would allow the port authority to qualify as a political subdivision under the federal Internal Revenue Code. As such, it could issue bonds that are exempt from federal income taxation.

Pursuing legal action
The board authorized the port director to proceed with the recovery, from general contractor Mike Temple Inc. of Hampden, of the port authority's costs for repairs to the Coast Guard building. Legal expenses would include both attorney's fees and the cost for an architectural firm, Archi-Check of Lubec, to document the problems.

Conveyor plans
Rick Hyde of Hershey Equipment Company outlined the plans for the new bulk material conveyor system. Bulldozers would push the wood chips, or other bulk material, into a reclaimer that would load the material onto the conveyor. Three conveyors will be on land and five on the pier. The material will go onto the ship loader, which is a portable conveyor used to flow the material into a ship's hold. The conveyor system, which can move materials at 600 feet a minute, also can be used to unload material from a ship.

Cruise ship liaisons
The board voted to have Chris Brown and Tessa Ftorek as cruise ship liaisons for the port authority, so they can represent the port authority in their work to attract cruise ships. They have both worked as long-time volunteers. As port authority representatives, their expenses can be covered, and a stipend could be provided for them.

New police cruiser
The board voted to give $5,000 to the city to help with the purchase of a new police cruiser. Although the city presently has four police cruisers, City Manager Jon Southern explained that three of them have major mechanical problems and two will be sold. The city is planning to purchase a new Ford Crown Victoria for $22,000, without using local tax revenue.