- Dates
- 1996-06 – 1997-12
- Kind
- Construction
- Where
- Beaver Island
- Eras
- Modern era
- Concepts
- transportationinfrastructurecommercegovernancecommunication
- Within
- Beaver Island
Summary
The June 1996 Beaver Beacon reported Blount Shipyards of Rhode Island as the low acceptable bidder to build Beaver Island’s new ferry, Emerald Isle, subject to final specification, MDOT, federal, and Transportation Authority approvals.
The September update reports that the final bidding and award procedure was complete and that a technical-specification review had cleared the builder to proceed toward delivery the following fall.
The April 1997 construction update reports that Boat Company representatives visited the Boothbay, Maine, shipyard on March 9. The new ferry was fully framed, most plating was in place, and passenger cabins were roughed in while the crew and builders worked through technical and passenger-comfort details.
The May report says welding was virtually complete, painting had begun, the engines and clutches were installed, interior joinery was underway, and water, sewage, and electrical systems were progressing. Launch was expected in late May or early June.
The June issue set the planned stern-first launch for June 6, 1997, after a May 6 shipyard visit and preparation for paint. The July issue reports that the launch occurred at high tide in Boothbay Harbor, with a 1,600-horsepower tug and remotely operated jack assisting the move down the ways. Father Royal Parent blessed the vessel, Tammy McDonough christened it, and the report says the vessel was undamaged. The launch notice is not a delivery or island-arrival record.
The August issue reports final approval of funding for a new dock, with work to begin that month. Bill McDonough estimated that the ferry, two docks, new terminal, and related transportation and infrastructure work represented about $10 million in combined improvements. This is a dock-funding report, not proof of the ferry’s island arrival.
The November report says sea trials exposed a warped port propeller shaft. The shipyard was seeking another shaft and had added structural reinforcement at the stern, with nearly $60,000 in corrective work and an expected mid-November arrival. This too is a construction and schedule report, not proof of delivery.
The December issue reports that heavy weather and maiden-voyage glitches, including a bow-thruster repair at the Soo, delayed the scheduled November 22 arrival. The article still expected the ferry before Thanksgiving, but this issue does not document the actual arrival date.
Evidence limits
This is a procurement-stage report, not a completed vessel or delivery record.
Sources
- Reports Blount Shipyards of Rhode Island as the lower of two acceptable bidders, describes final specification and federal grant approvals, and names Emerald Isle as the planned ferry. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1996-06_Beaver-Beacon
- The held issue scan confirms the builder-selection report.data1 · beaver-island-archive · scans · beaver_beacon · issues · 1996-06_Beaver-Beacon
- Reports that final bidding and award procedures were complete and that technical specifications had received final approval so construction could proceed toward a next-fall delivery. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1996-09_Beaver-Beacon
- The held issue scan confirms the ferry procurement update.data1 · beaver-island-archive · scans · beaver_beacon · issues · 1996-09_Beaver-Beacon
- Reports an eminently successful late-February inspection visit by the Beaver Island Transportation Authority and other island representatives to the Washburn and Doughty Associates shipyard in East Boothbay, Maine; the ship-check covered construction, equipment, costs, and timetable and said the ferry remained on schedule for delivery that summer. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1997-03_Beaver-Beacon
- The held issue scan confirms the Emerald Isle inspection report.data1 · beaver-island-archive · scans · beaver_beacon · issues · 1997-03_Beaver-Beacon
- Reports a March 9 shipyard visit by Beaver Island Boat Company representatives to Boothbay, Maine; the ferry was fully framed, most plating was in place, passenger cabins were roughed in, and technical and passenger-comfort details were being resolved. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1997-04_Beaver-Beacon
- The held issue scan confirms the Emerald Isle construction update.data1 · beaver-island-archive · scans · beaver_beacon · issues · 1997-04_Beaver-Beacon
- Reports that welding was virtually complete, painting underway, engines and clutches installed, interior joinery progressing, water and sewage piping in place, and launch expected in late May or early June before installation of the pilot house and exhaust-stack tunnels. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1997-05_Beaver-Beacon
- The held issue scan confirms the May ferry progress report.data1 · beaver-island-archive · scans · beaver_beacon · issues · 1997-05_Beaver-Beacon
- Reports the May 6 Boothbay shipyard visit, sandblasting and paint preparation, and a planned June 6, 1997 stern-first launch attended by BITA and Boat Company officials; delivery was still expected near the end of summer. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1997-06_Beaver-Beacon
- The held issue scan confirms the scheduled launch report.data1 · beaver-island-archive · scans · beaver_beacon · issues · 1997-06_Beaver-Beacon
- Reports that Emerald Isle was launched at high tide on June 6, 1997, at Boothbay Harbor after assistance from a 1,600-horsepower tug and a remotely operated jack; the article names island, Boat Company, township, transportation, aviation, and shipyard participants and describes the blessing, christening, and successful launch. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1997-07_Beaver-Beacon
- The held issue scan confirms the launch report and accompanying photograph.data1 · beaver-island-archive · scans · beaver_beacon · issues · 1997-07_Beaver-Beacon
- Reports final approval of dock funding, work scheduled to begin in August, and Bill McDonough's estimate that total transportation and infrastructure improvements associated with the new ferry, docks, and terminal would reach $10 million. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1997-08_Beaver-Beacon
- The held issue scan confirms the dock-funding report and ferry photograph.data1 · beaver-island-archive · scans · beaver_beacon · issues · 1997-08_Beaver-Beacon
- Reports a warped port propeller shaft discovered during sea trials, a planned replacement and structural reinforcement, nearly $60,000 in corrective work, and an expected mid-November arrival after the delay. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1997-11_Beaver-Beacon
- The held issue scan confirms the delayed-ferry report.data1 · beaver-island-archive · scans · beaver_beacon · issues · 1997-11_Beaver-Beacon
- Reports that heavy weather and maiden-voyage glitches delayed the ferry’s trip to Beaver Island and Charlevoix; a bow-thruster fix was being made at the Soo after the scheduled November 22 arrival was delayed, with arrival still expected before Thanksgiving. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1997-12_Beaver-Beacon
- The held issue scan confirms the delayed-maiden-voyage report.data1 · beaver-island-archive · scans · beaver_beacon · issues · 1997-12_Beaver-Beacon
Added 5 August 2026 · revised 6 August 2026. Recent changes
Cite this article
Beaver Island Archive, “Blount Shipyards is selected to build Beaver Island’s new Emerald Isle ferry in 1996”, https://beaverislandarchive.org/events/beaver-island-emerald-isle-ferry-builder-selected-1996/, accessed [date], citing Beaver Beacon, June 1996, “The New Ferry Has a Builder, and the Winning Bidder Is ...” (and 19 further sources listed on the page).
Last revised 2026-08-06. Fill in [date] with the date you read it — this page is static and cannot know that.
BibTeX for “Blount Shipyards is selected to build Beaver Island’s new Emerald Isle ferry in 1996”RIS for “Blount Shipyards is selected to build Beaver Island’s new Emerald Isle ferry in 1996”