Classic Wood, Working the Bay
The Rockland Gulf, one of the last wooden hulls working in the lobster fishery, left her mooring during an early November gale and landed high-and-dry just inside the breakwater in Rockland. As a testament to the ship’s construction, the sturdy vessel emerged from the ordeal essentially unscathed thanks to some well-placed float bags.
Rockland Gulf was originally built as Seneca in 1933 in Brooklyn, New York, one of about thirty small wooden inshore tankers commissioned by the Gulf Oil Corp. Eventually renamed Rockland Gulf, she worked many years faithfully delivering fuel to the island communities of Penobscot Bay. When fully laden with 10,000 gallons aboard, the main deck was virtually awash, leading to the nickname “Sailing Submarine” for her appearance to other vessels.
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Photos of Classic Wood, Working the Bay
