Portland is a small city that mixes urban sophistication with home-town friendliness. Portland’s Old Port District has been restored to 19th century splendor, with cobbled streets and beautiful Victorian brick buildings housing an eclectic mix of restaurants, microbreweries, art galleries, and specialty shops. Here you can enjoy views of Casco Bay while dining, or browse through the quaint shops selling crafts, antiques, and Maine-made products.

Most of Portland's best attractions are all within a ten-minute walk. The Portland Museum of Art, housing a permanent collection of paintings by Winslow Homer, Renoir, Degas, Monet, Picasso, and other masters. Next door is the award winning Children’s Museum of Maine, and then a cobblestone’s throw from there is the must see – Victorian Mansion. The State Theater and the Portland Performing Arts Center, offering concerts and other events, are in the same neighborhood.

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Ship Anchorage Specifications
Deep laden vessels (over 28’ draft) normally anchor in the “B” or Diamond Island Roads anchorage. Light vessels, barges, and recreational boats may anchor in the “A” anchorage off Fish Point. Both anchorages lie in the inner harbor and are well-protected.

Tender Landing
The tender landing for ships at anchorages A and B is located at the Maine State Pier, there is a wooden dock secured by wood pilings. The landing is ADA accessible. The same amenities listed for the Maine State Pier apply to the tender landing.

Pilotage
Pilots board 1.0 nautical mile north of the ELN Racon “PAPA” buoy at
sposition 43-31.6 North and 70-05.5 West.

Portland Pilots monitor VHF 16 and 11 and can be reached at
Tel: (207) 774-5623, Fax: (207) 774-5683.

Pilotage is compulsory for all foreign vessels and US vessels under register in the foreign trade drawing over nine feet. Pilotage is optional for coastwise or fishing vessels under enrollment or license who have onboard a pilot licensed by the Federal Government. The Pilot boats are black-hulled with a white superstructure with the word PILOT on both sides. One is 48 feet LOA and the other is 65 feet LOA. Vessels are requested to provide 48 and 24 hours notice of ETA and to update any appreciable changes. The pilots do not maintain the boat on station. Distance from the pilot station to the inner harbor is approximately 10 miles.

Docking Information
All vessels operating in Portland Harbor must have a Pilot on board. Under recently instituted rules of the Portland Harbor Commissioners, Docking Master rates and procedures are regulated. All vessels requiring tug services in berthing are required to have a Docking Master onboard.

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