Rockland hires new harbor master
Matthew Ripley
Matthew Ripley
ROCKLAND — City Manager James Chaousis announced Thursday afternoon, March 3, that Rockland’s new harbor master is Matthew Ripley. A former Coast Guard naval engineer, Ripley grew up in St. George.
“Ripley is a recently retired Coast Guard officer with over 21 years of service who brings deep, pertinent managerial experience to the harbormaster position, which has overall responsibility for the smooth operation of the Rockland Harbor,” said a news release from the city.
Ripley will start in his new position Monday, March 7, and will attend the annual harbor master training, which takes place at the end of this coming week at Maine Maritime Academy in Castine.
The pool of harbor master applicants — all male — numbered 14, “a really strong pool of applicants,” the city manager said. “The final four were all very impressive applicants.”
“I love Rockland,” Ripley said, in the release. “I’m so happy that I will get the chance to exercise the skills I’ve developed over two decades in the Coast Guard to help improve the harbor for business and recreation.”
Chaousis said: “Matt will bring a great level of professionalism to a job that is so important to such a vital part of our community — our beloved harbor. We are lucky to have him.”
As a naval engineer in the Coast Guard, Ripley supervised personnel in shipboard and small boat engineering maintenance, search and rescue operations, waterfront projects, drug interdiction, migrant operations, ship repair, law enforcement, and training, among other things.
He worked with a variety of local state and government agencies ranging from FEMA to local sheriff departments, and he has been stationed in Rockland and St. Augustine, Florida. He grew up in St. George, and started his career working as a crewman on the Laura B in Port Clyde.
Ripley has also volunteered hours winterizing houses and assisting with food pantries.
“This is a vital job for a harbor-oriented city like Rockland, and Ripley will be Rockland’s point person when it comes to making the harbor safe, work well for businesses including fisherman, and appeal to visitors,” the release said. “The job comes with enforcement responsibilities as well, including enforcement of city ordinances and observing state and federal laws. Ripley will also make harbor-related recommendations to Rockland’s Harbor Management Commission and City Council.”
Chaousis said competition for the harbormaster job was intense, but that Ripley’s deep maritime experience clearly made him the exceptional candidate.
“This is the direction we need to be going,” Chaousis said. “We’ve got to work together to make Rockland a better place to live and make a living.”
Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657
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