Coast Guard facilities in Maine awarded $42M for storm repairs

File Photo / Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard The historic U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle visited Rockland in August.

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U.S. Coast Guard facilities in Rockland, Southwest Harbor and Portland were awarded $42 million in federal funds to repair facilities damaged in last winter’s storms.

The money was requested by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. It’s part of more than $210 million for construction projects in disaster relief legislation that was passed by Congress and signed into law last week, according to a news release.

The Coast Guard station in Rockland, at 54 Tillson Ave., will receive the bulk of the money, with $40.7 million designated to repair the pier and boathouse, which were in need of renovations anyway but significantly worsened by last winter's storms.

The Southwest Harbor station will receive $880,000 to replace dolphin piles, short ties, lighting and fender systems, as well as piles on the pier. The money will also support remediation and repairs to water damage to the command and boat maintenance building.

The Portland station will get $502,000 to repair the pier and survey for future dredging.

Rockland designation

In August, Rockland celebrated its recertification as one of 34 “Coast Guard cities” with the arrival of the 295-foot U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle (WIX 327), reception and participation in the Maine Lobster Festival by Eagle crewmembers, U.S. Coast Guard Academy cadets, Coast Guardsmen, a 29-foot response boat from Coast Guard Station Rockland and command and crewmembers from the USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119).

The Coast Guard city program recognizes communities that support local Coast Guard members. A city, municipality, or county earns the designation “Coast Guard City” or “Coast Guard Community” by making special efforts to acknowledge the professional work of the Coast Guardsmen working in their area.

“Through search and rescue missions, ice breaking operations and navigation assistance, the U.S. Coast Guard plays an important role in ensuring safe maritime traffic,” said Collins.