AMONG THE 13 REFERENDA ON THE PORTLAND BALLOT THIS ELECTION, ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL IS “QUESTION E,” WHICH WOULD LIMIT CRUISE SHIPS ARRIVING IN THE CITY TO ONE- THOUSAND PASSENGERS. IN A STORY YOU WILL SEE “ONLY ON 8,” OUR PHIL HIRSCHKORN WENT TO SEA…FOR A FIRST-HAND LOOK AT SOME OF THE JOBS THAT DEPEND ON BIG-CRUISE- SHIP TRAFFIC. (PHIL STANDUP OPEN 22:45:22 // 20:45:40) “ON THIS FOGGY MORNING,. WE’RE ON BOARD THE “SPRING POINT” PILOT SHIP, HEADING 10 MILES OFFSHORE TO MEET UP WITH A LARGE CRUISE SHIP. THE MISSION – TO GUIDE IT SAFELY INTO PORTLAND HARBOR.” (NATSOT RADIO 22:51) (VO 1) CAPTAIN CALVIN KLOPP IS ONE OF THREE FULL-TIME HARBOR PILOTS WHO GUIDE ABOUT 300 LARGE SHIPS EVERY YEAR THROUGH THE GULF OF MAINE. (SOT KLOPP 22:45:55) “CRUISE SHIPS, TANKERS, BULK CARGO SHIPS, CONTAINER SHIPS, AND EVEN SOME RECREATIONAL YACHTS, IF THEY’RE LARGE ENOUGH.” (VO 2: BOAT IN PORT SAT OCT 15) 70 ARE CRUISE SHIPS, MOST CARRYING SEVERAL THOUSAND PASSENGERS, PLUS CREW. SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER ARE THE BUSY SEASON. CRUISE SHIP REVENUE MAKES UP 60% OF THE PILOTS’ ANNUAL INCOME. (SOT KLOPP, 22:46:20) “OUR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE BASICALLY PROTECTION OF THE PEOPLE HERE, PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT, AND PROTECTION OF PROPERTY.” (VO 3. LOBSTER BOAT 23:02) PILOTS STEER CRUISE SHIPS AWAY FROM SMALLER SHIPS, LIKE THIS LOBSTER BOAT, AND HELP THEM AVOID SCRAPING THE OCEAN FLOOR IN SHALLOW WATERS. (SOT KLOPP + BUOY, 22:48:45) “THIS IS THE SEA BUOY, THE PILOT STATION, THE PAPPA BUOY, WERE WE MEET THE SHIPS OFF SORE TO BRING THEM INTO THE HARBOR.” (VO 4: RADAR 22:53:50, THEN BOAT 22:55:30) FIRST SEEN ON RADAR, THE CRUISE SHIP IS NOW IN SIGHT. THE NORWEGIAN BREAKAWAY, MORE THAN A THOUSAND FEET LONG (1,068) , CARRYING NEARLY FOUR THOUSAND PASSENGERS (3,963). (KOPP CLIMBS ABOARD 22:56) CAPTAIN KLOPP CLIMBS ABOARD FOR THE RIDE INTO THE HARBOR. (SHIP IN TERMINAL 23:21:30… PASSENGERS) AN HOUR LATER, THE NORWEGIAN BREAKAWAY PULLS INTO PORTLAND’S OCEAN GATEWAY TERMINAL THOUSANDS OF PASSENGERS DISEMBARK. MANY WILL EXPLORE PORTLAND – SIGHTS, SHOPS, AND RESTAURANTS. HUNDREDS WILL GO ON EXCURSIONS TO PLACES LIKE KENNEBUNK AND FREEPORT. (SOT JASON BRIGGS, 23:37:51) “IF THE SHIP WAS NOT HERE TODAY, OUT OF THESE 18 BUSES, MAYBE A-THIRD WOULD HAVE SOMETHING TO DO.” (VO 5: BUSES, DRIVERS) BUS OPERATOR JASON BRIGGS SAYS CRUISE SHIPS ARE HIS COMPANY’S #1 REVENUE SOURCE, AND TOUR GUIDE AND BUS DRIVER JOBS DEPEND ON IT. (SOT BRIGGS, 23:37:30) “IF YOU ADD IN THEIR GRATUITIES, THEY’RE AVERAGING 37 TO 52 DOLLARS AN HOUR.” (VO 6: SHIP IN DOCK… LONGSHOREMEN) THE CRUISE SHIPS PAY $3 MILLION A YEAR TO THE CITY OF PORTLAND IN PER PASSENGER DOCKING FEES. ABOUT 60 LONGSHOREMEN HANDLE SHIP ARRIVALS. (SOT JACK HUMENIEUK, VP, ILA UNION LOCAL 861, 23:42:49) “90% OF OUR WORK IS THESE LARGER SHIPS.” (VO 7: LONGSHOREMAN 23:20:25, 23:25:00…SHIP) LONGSHOREMAN LOCAL UNION VICE PRESIDENT JACK HUMENIEUK HAS WORKED THE WATERFRONT SINCE 1976. HE SAYS IF THE REFERENDUM LIMITING SHIPS TO 1,000 PASSENGERS WERE TO PASS, HE WOULD FEEL THE ECONOMIC IMPACT. (SOT JACK HUMENIEUK, VP, ILA UNION LOCAL 86123:43:13) “IT WOULD BE DEVASTATING.” (PHIL STANDUP CLOSE 23:23:26) “THE HARBOR PILOTS, LONGSHOREMEN, AND OTHERS WHOSE JOB IT IS TO WELCOME PASSENGERS SAY THE FUTUR
Opponents predict job losses at Portland waterfront and past if cruise ship referendum passes
Poll Query E would ban cruise ships with greater than 1,000 passengers
Up to date: 7:59 PM EDT Oct 26, 2022
Among the many 13 referenda on the Portland poll this election, one of the crucial controversial is Query E, which might restrict cruise ships arriving within the metropolis to 1,000 passengers. Opponents predict the referendum, placed on the poll by Democratic Socialists of America, in search of to curb cruise ship air air pollution, will price jobs that rely on the ship site visitors.These opponents embody longshoremen who help and safe ship arrivals, bus and tour operators who take passengers on day-long excursions in Southern Maine, downtown Portland companies that profit from the foot site visitors, harbor and metropolis officers who worry tax income losses, in addition to the pilots who carry cruise ships ashore.On a foggy Tuesday morning, my cameraman, Keyvn Fowler, and I boarded the Spring Level pilot ship, heading 10 miles offshore to fulfill up with a big cruise ship. The mission was to information it safely into Portland Harbor.Captain Calvin Klopp is one among three full-time harbor pilots who information about 300 ships yearly via the Gulf of Maine.Klopp stated, “Cruise ships, tankers, bulk cargo ships, container ships, and even some leisure yachts, in the event that they’re massive sufficient.” 70 are cruise ships, most carrying a number of thousand passengers, plus crew. September and October is the busy season. Cruise ship income makes up 60% of the pilots’ annual revenue. Klopp stated, “Our duties are mainly safety of the individuals right here, safety of the setting, and safety of property.”Pilots direct cruise ships away from smaller ships, like lobster boats, and assist them keep away from scraping the ocean flooring in shallow waters.After an hour at sea, we reached the buoy that marks the 10-mile mark, “the pappa buoy,” as Klopp calls it.First seen in radar, the cruise ship was now in sight — the Norwegian Breakaway, 1,068 ft lengthy, carrying 3,963 passengers.Quickly afterward, Klopp used a ladder to board the ship. About an hour later, she pulled into Portland’s Ocean Gateway terminal.1000’s of passengers disembarked. Many would discover Portland – sights, outlets, and eating places — whereas a whole bunch went on excursions to locations like Kennebunk and Freeport.Jason Briggs, Vice President, VIP Tour & Constitution Bus Co., stated, “If the ship was not right here immediately, out of those 18 buses, perhaps a-third would have one thing to do.”Briggs stated cruise ships are his firm’s primary income supply, and tour guides and bus driver jobs rely on the site visitors.Briggs stated of the drivers, “Should you add of their gratuities, they’re averaging $37 to $52 an hour.”About 60 longshoremen deal with the arrivals.“90% of our work is these bigger ships,” stated, Worldwide Longshoremen Native 861 Vice President Jack Humenieuk, who has labored the waterfront since 1976. He says if Query E had been to go, limiting ships to 1,000 passengers, the financial affect could be rapid.“It will be devastating,” Humenieuk stated, inflicting union member to lose 30% of their revenue. “We’d get quite a bit farther forward a lot faster than a restrictive referendum that doesn’t present any options.”The cruise ships additionally pay $3 million a yr to the Metropolis of Portland in per passenger docking charges.Dan Haley, Chairman of the Portland Harbor Fee, described the referendum as a job killer.Haley stated, “So, you’re eliminating jobs on the metropolis. You’re eliminating 25 longshoremen jobs on the cruise ship terminal. The provisioners that offer the cruise ships with gas, meals, and a number of commodities that they want, they lose enterprise. Have they got to chop again staff? Perhaps.”The Democratic Socialists of America, the group behind many controversial Portland referenda since 2020, together with Query E, have since renounced it, however Portland legislation didn’t permit its elimination from the November poll.DSA has since endorsed a compromise reached in talks with the ILA and Portland Metropolis Councilor Andrew Zarro, who chairs the council’s sustainability committee, calling for cruise ships to pay for electrifying the waterfront, so ships would possibly draw energy with out operating their engines by burning fossil fuels and releasing air polluting fumes whereas idling within the harbor all day.“It was ill-thought-out. A pleasant concept by the DSA to be environmentally pleasant,” Haley stated, “However I don’t assume they perceive the implications.”Captain Klopp stated, “The destiny of Portland Harbor is within the palms of the voters now.”
Among the many 13 referenda on the Portland ballot this election, one of the crucial controversial is Question E, which might restrict cruise ships arriving within the metropolis to 1,000 passengers.
Opponents predict the referendum, placed on the poll by Democratic Socialists of America, in search of to curb cruise ship air air pollution, will price jobs that rely on the ship site visitors.
These opponents embody longshoremen who help and safe ship arrivals, bus and tour operators who take passengers on day-long excursions in Southern Maine, downtown Portland companies that profit from the foot site visitors, harbor and metropolis officers who worry tax income losses, in addition to the pilots who carry cruise ships ashore.
On a foggy Tuesday morning, my cameraman, Keyvn Fowler, and I boarded the Spring Level pilot ship, heading 10 miles offshore to fulfill up with a big cruise ship.
The mission was to information it safely into Portland Harbor.
Captain Calvin Klopp is one among three full-time harbor pilots who information about 300 ships yearly via the Gulf of Maine.
Klopp stated, “Cruise ships, tankers, bulk cargo ships, container ships, and even some leisure yachts, in the event that they’re massive sufficient.”
70 are cruise ships, most carrying a number of thousand passengers, plus crew. September and October is the busy season. Cruise ship income makes up 60% of the pilots’ annual revenue.
Klopp stated, “Our duties are mainly safety of the individuals right here, safety of the setting, and safety of property.”
Pilots direct cruise ships away from smaller ships, like lobster boats, and assist them keep away from scraping the ocean flooring in shallow waters.
After an hour at sea, we reached the buoy that marks the 10-mile mark, “the pappa buoy,” as Klopp calls it.
First seen in radar, the cruise ship was now in sight — the Norwegian Breakaway, 1,068 ft lengthy, carrying 3,963 passengers.
Quickly afterward, Klopp used a ladder to board the ship. About an hour later, she pulled into Portland’s Ocean Gateway terminal.
1000’s of passengers disembarked. Many would discover Portland – sights, outlets, and eating places — whereas a whole bunch went on excursions to locations like Kennebunk and Freeport.
Jason Briggs, Vice President, VIP Tour & Constitution Bus Co., stated, “If the ship was not right here immediately, out of those 18 buses, perhaps a-third would have one thing to do.”
Briggs stated cruise ships are his firm’s primary income supply, and tour guides and bus driver jobs rely on the site visitors.
Briggs stated of the drivers, “Should you add of their gratuities, they’re averaging $37 to $52 an hour.”
About 60 longshoremen deal with the arrivals.
“90% of our work is these bigger ships,” stated, Worldwide Longshoremen Native 861 Vice President Jack Humenieuk, who has labored the waterfront since 1976.
He says if Query E had been to go, limiting ships to 1,000 passengers, the financial affect could be rapid.
“It will be devastating,” Humenieuk stated, inflicting union member to lose 30% of their revenue. “We’d get quite a bit farther forward a lot faster than a restrictive referendum that doesn’t present any options.”
The cruise ships additionally pay $3 million a yr to the Metropolis of Portland in per passenger docking charges.
Dan Haley, Chairman of the Portland Harbor Fee, described the referendum as a job killer.
Haley stated, “So, you’re eliminating jobs on the metropolis. You’re eliminating 25 longshoremen jobs on the cruise ship terminal. The provisioners that offer the cruise ships with gas, meals, and a number of commodities that they want, they lose enterprise. Have they got to chop again staff? Perhaps.”
The Democratic Socialists of America, the group behind many controversial Portland referenda since 2020, including Question E, have since renounced it, however Portland legislation didn’t permit its elimination from the November poll.
DSA has since endorsed a compromise reached in talks with the ILA and Portland Metropolis Councilor Andrew Zarro, who chairs the council’s sustainability committee, calling for cruise ships to pay for electrifying the waterfront, so ships would possibly draw energy with out operating their engines by burning fossil fuels and releasing air polluting fumes whereas idling within the harbor all day.
“It was ill-thought-out. A pleasant concept by the DSA to be environmentally pleasant,” Haley stated, “However I don’t assume they perceive the implications.”
Captain Klopp stated, “The destiny of Portland Harbor is within the palms of the voters now.”
