Two Portland tugboats join America 250 celebrations in Boston, New York
ALL RIGHT. THANKS, RON. YEAH, WE’RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE FIREWORKS FOR SURE. AS AMERICA 250 CELEBRATIONS GET STARTED, THE FLEET OF SHIPS HAS BEEN VISITING FIVE CITIES ACROSS THE EAST COAST, AND TWO PORTLAND TUGBOATS WILL BE A PART OF THOSE CELEBRATIONS. RENATE SCHMIDT WENT ALONG FOR THE RIDE TO FIND OUT HOW THESE BOATS SNAGGED A SEAT IN THE NATION’S BIGGEST PARTY. TALK ABOUT PATRIOTIC PRIDE. THE SHIP, THE ANDREW MCALLISTER, IS DECKED OUT FOR THE AMERICA 250 CELEBRATION. BUT RECENTLY IT’S BEEN GOING BY ANOTHER NAME. HOW DOES ONE GET THEIR TUGBOAT TO THE 250 CELEBRATION? YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT LOOK THAT GOOD. I MEAN, THE ANDREW IS AMERICA’S TUGBOAT. THE ANDREW MCALLISTER ONE OF FOUR TUGBOATS IN THE FLEET RESPONSIBLE FOR GUIDING SHIPS THROUGH THE PORTLAND HARBOR, WILL BE SAILING DOWN TO BOSTON TO JOIN THE SAIL 250 FESTIVITIES ON JULY 11TH. MILITARY AND TALL SHIPS ARE VISITING FIVE MAJOR U.S. CITIES ON THE EAST COAST, INCLUDING NEW YORK, FOR THE 4TH OF JULY AND AFTERWARDS, BOSTON. IT’S GOING TO BE HECTIC. IT’S A LOT OF BOATS ON BOSTON HARBOR, AND WE’RE GOING TO BE RIGHT IN THE THROES OF IT. WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. IT’S GOING TO BE EXCITING. THE COMPANY HAD THE IDEA TO DECORATE THE ANDREW BACK IN MARCH. I THINK IT STARTED WITH A WITH THE STICKERS, AND THEN IT WENT TO PAINTING THE STRIPES AND THEN THE BLUE IN THE WHEELHOUSE AND THE STARS. AT THAT POINT, THEY DIDN’T HAVE ANY INVITATION TO JOIN THE BOSTON PARADE. SOCIAL MEDIA CHANGED THAT, POSTING VIDEOS OF ON OUR OWN PAGES AND PORTLAND TUGBOAT PAGE, AS WELL AS THE MCALLISTER PAGE AND. I THINK IT JUST SPREAD. MAINE’S TOTAL COVERAGE BOARDED THE ANDREW TO GET A SENSE OF THE JOB. HARTLAND ARE THE DOCK. NO, I MEAN ON THE SHIP. OKAY. RIGHT NOW I’M ALL STOPPED. BUT THE SHIP IS BACKING AND HE’S USING THE CHARLES TO PUSH THE STERN UP RIVER. THE ANDREW BUMPING UP AGAINST THE GREAT EASTERN THICK LINES CONNECTING THE TWO WHISTLES, COMMUNICATING HOW CAPTAIN SARAH KAPLAN AND ANOTHER TUGBOAT SHOULD PUSH OR PULL THE TANKER SHIP. SHE HELPS THE SHIP NAVIGATE THE HARBOR AND THE CASCO BAY BRIDGE. IF THE BRIDGE DOESN’T GO UP FOR ANY REASON, I KNOW THAT I’LL BE GETTING AN ORDER FROM HIM TO BACK AND STOP THE SHIP. IT’S A JOB WITH ODD HOURS AND HIGH STAKES. TUGBOATS TYPICALLY DON’T HAVE FUN DAYS. YOU CAN SEE WHY THESE THINGS ARE HEAVILY FENDERED. A LOT OF CONTACT. BUT FOURNIER SAYS THE SAIL 250 EVENTS SHOULD BE FUN. IT’S REALLY A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW OFF THE HARD WORK AND THE MAD SKILLS THAT THESE GUYS AND GIRLS PUT INTO THAT TUGBOAT. IT’S A PATRIOTIC PRIVILEGE TO BE A PART OF SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS EVENT, AND SO WE’RE HAPPY TO BE THERE REPRESENTING, YOU KNOW, PORTLAND AND THE STATE OF MAINE. THE COMPANY SAYS THEY USUALLY PUT ON A DISPLAY FOR THE 4TH OF JULY. BUT THIS YEAR, BECAUSE THE RODERICK WILL BE IN NEW YORK,
Two Portland tugboats join America 250 celebrations in Boston, New York
Updated: 11:39 AM EDT Jul 6, 2026
Two Portland tugboats were a part of America 250 celebrations in Boston and New York.
PORTLAND, Maine —
Two Portland tugboats were a part of America 250 celebrations in Boston and New York.