Page 44: of Marine Technology Magazine (October 2012)

On August 14, 2012, more than 50 fellow lobster- man, boat workers, mechanics, family, and friends gathered to witness the launching of the 55-foot research and lobster vessel Jamie Hanna. A pro- cession of cars made the 2 mile trip to the launching ramp at Outward Bound on Clarke Island, Maine. The lead car cleared the road to make way, as the 20 ton hydraulic trailer inched along and a crew on the pilothouse roof lifted phone lines and branches. When the boat arrived at the ramp an hour later, the tide was falling and concerns were raised about whether the boat would Þ t between the rocks and the ß oating dock. With mere inches to spare the driver expertly guided the trailer down the dock, as this was by far the largest vessel ever to be launched here. With the hull Þ nally fully submerged and the vessel ß oating, the owner and captain, Josh Goodwin, could Þ nally relax. He and his wife, Shanna, proceeded to ceremoni- ously christen the new million dollar boat, the Jamie Hanna, named after their daughter. This event was over 10 years in the making. It all began in 2000, when CR Environmental, Inc. (CR) re- ceived a Fishermen Industry Grant from NOAA to train Þ sher- men and outÞ t their vessels for oceanographic survey work. A First Person BY JOHN ?CHIP? RYTHER , CHRIS WRIGHT & ELI PERRONE Launching the Jamie Hanna WESMACs built in Surry, Maine are the ?Cadillacs? of lobster boat hulls, known for high performance while keeping the tradi- tional down east Maine lobster boat lines. 44 MTROctober 2012MTR #8 (34-49).indd 44MTR #8 (34-49).indd 4410/3/2012 10:10:28 AM10/3/2012 10:10:28 AM