Marine Patrol gets a new ride

The Maine Marine Patrol has launched a new boat in Stonington to support its work patrolling Maine’s most lucrative fishing port.

The new 26-foot Patrol Vessel Moxie was built by Biddeford-based General Marine. It replaces a 21-foot Boston Whaler.  “The PV Moxie’s name represents the courage and determination of Marine Patrol Officers,” said Marine Patrol Colonel Jon Cornish.

Moxie will provide Officers Tyler Sirois and Daniel Vogel, who work in the Stonington patrol, the ability to haul lobster gear and, with an enclosed wheel house, go out in more challenging weather conditions.

“This is a much-improved platform for patrol activity in this very busy fishing port,” said Cornish.

“Prior to having this vessel in Stonington, Officers had to bring a larger boat from either Rockland or Mount Desert Island to haul lobster gear as part of routine patrols. Now, they have a local vessel they can use to haul and inspect lobster gear without having to bring a vessel from another patrol area," he said. “This saves valuable time and allows us to maintain assets in the other areas.”

Stonington has consistently been the state's most lucrative port in terms of the value of landings, which is why the Marine Patrol invested in the upgraded vessel, he added.

Moxie, a General Marine Blue Water 26, has a full keel for running gear protection and lateral stability, molded in spray rails and flair in the bow for a dry ride. “This hull design ensures excellent handling, stability, and maneuverability and allows Officers to access areas near shore where larger boats are unable to go,” said Cornish.

The hull is constructed of solid, high tech fiberglass. All hardware is 316 stainless steel above the waterline and silicon bronze below the waterline. The deck and interior are fully molded with diamond nonskid and molded in hatches. Moxie is powered by a Volvo D6 310 engine and outfitted with a full electronics package for navigation.

Total cost for Moxie was $193,270, of which $160,000 was paid for through a Joint Enforcement Agreement with the National Marine Fisheries Service, which provides the Maine Marine Patrol funding to support federal fisheries enforcement. The remainder of the cost was covered by the Department.

CAPTIONS FOR PHOTOS:

1) Pictured with the new Patrol Vessel Moxie are MPO Daniel Vogel (left) and Tyler Sirois
2) PV Moxie underway in Stonington