Pemaquid

Sheehy’s ‘Columbia’ runs aground near Pemaquid

Owner’s ship ‘Westward’ is still in Boothbay Harbor
Sun, 03/22/2015 - 2:00pm

A fishing vessel drifted from its mooring and ran aground March 18.

The F/V Columbia recently drifted from its mooring in Pemaquid Harbor and came to rest some 300 yards away, according to the United States Coast Guard.

Petty Officer Myeonghi Clegg said the Columbia, which is reportedly owned by James Sheehy, who also owns Boothbay Harbor's Westward, dragged its mooring on approximately 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 18 in Pemaquid.

“We received the call that (the Columbia) had drug its mooring into the shallow area near the Pemaquid River,” Clegg said. “We sent out (a ship), but there was no pollution, and we heard that the town has been working with the previous owner to get the ship removed.”

Clegg said the Coast Guard's involvement has likely ceased, but that there will be an investigation.

Although no cause was given for the ship dragging its mooring, wind speed and high waves could be one of the causes, Clegg said. On Wednesday, high gusts were sustained in the Midcoast region.

Both Columbia and Westward have come loose from their moorings within the past year. Westward, a 136-foot fishing vessel, became untethered in January and ran aground in the Harbor.

Westward is currently waiting to be brought to a mooring in Portland Harbor. Prior to running aground in January, the Westward also broke its mooring in October 2013.

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