Sea Tow Services International, Inc., America’s leading professional on-water assistance provider named Sea Tow Portland/Midcoast (Maine) its 2016 “Rookie of the Year.” The award was presented at the Sea Tow Awards Luncheon Nov. 17 during the organization’s 2016 annual meeting at the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort in Orlando.

Maine’s Sea Tow Portland/Midcoast uses its four distinct yellow Sea Tow boats to provide on-water assistance to boaters in the Atlantic Ocean and inshore waters of Maine in the 45-mile stretch between Goat Island off Cape Porpoise in the south to Pemquid Point to the north. 

Captains Matt Wilder and Bruce White are fixtures in the Boothbay Harbor area. Captain Wilder was born in Boothbay Harbor and has been a maritime professional since he was 14, receiving his Coast Guard captain’s license at 21.

When he was just two weeks old, Captain White’s parents took him for his first boat ride and he has been on the water ever since. At age 14, he started his passenger-carrying career and obtained his captain’s license at 19 years old. He currently holds a Coast Guard license for vessels up to 100 tons.

“Matt Wilder and Bruce White hit the ground running at Sea Tow Portland/Midcoast,” said Sea Tow CEO Captain Joseph Frohnhoefer, III. “They have drawn on their business expertise and dedication to serving others to ensure that Sea Tow members and other boaters in the Portland area receive the highest level of service on the water.”