Rotary Log: March 7, 2013 (Dick Holt and the River)

A light snow fell as our Thursday meeting was called into session by President Nancy. There is something special about a light snow falling outside while spending time with colleagues and friends all trying to attain a common purpose and goals.

 
Instead of the two minute tidbit, we heard from past President Peter Scott Stringham. He served as Rotary President from 1998-1999. He was told that if its not fun half of the time, then you are doing something wrong. Wise words that we should all take note of. It just so happened that the Thursday meeting fell on April Fools Day. Past President Peter gave us all a chuckle telling us the story that the meeting was performed backwards. The meeting began with dismissal and ended with the pledge of allegiance. Well played President Peter....

 
Numerous announcements were made before our speaker began.

Comedian Bob Marley will headline a special fund-raiser at the Portsmouth Gas Light Co. on Tuesday, March 19. The event, which begins at 6 p.m. on the third floor of the Gas Light, is being held to raise awareness and money for Best Buddies, a nonprofit that helps teens and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities. Tickets are $40 and are available at www.vendini.com. Google: "Bob Marley Portsmouth Gas Light Tuesday, March 19."

Next Wednesday is Behind the Business as the Seacoast Media Group. A show of hands estimated 30-40 rotarians attending. Marie Brownell continues to seek pictures for our 90th anniversary. Joanie Dickinson announced that the Portsmouth Interact group raised $750 dollars through their Valentine's "Crushed Can" sales for the American Heart Association. If any Rotarian has an interest, you can buy a cell within a solar panel for $5. The interact group is trying to raise money to install solar panels at the high school.

 
A familiar face joined us as speaker. Captain Richard Holt, a fourth generation tugboat captain on the Piscataqua River presented "Commercial Shipping on the Piscataqua River and Portsmouth Harbor Pilots." A quick fun fact from Capt. Holt was that his great grandfather was instrumental in the construction and installation of the original Memorial Bridge.

His discussion was extremely educational for many in attendance and raised awareness that Portsmouth's and New Hampshire's economic competitiveness is at stake due to the Sara Long bridge's restrictions. The bridge is acting as a barrier for commerce up river since boats are becoming much bigger and efficient.The ports in Boston and Portland can accommodate these much bigger ships which could reallocate economic activity to the north and south. One of the reasons for ships becoming much larger is due to the expansion of the Panama Canal. Currently, the Panama Canal can handle ships of 100 ft. long and 110 wide, but the expansion will accommodate ships that are 1400 ft. long and 180 ft. wide within two years to compete with the Suez Canal. The Piscataqua River weight maximums were increased from 40,000 tons to 70,000 tons and the maximum width is 106 ft. This width maximum is only due to the Sara Long Bridge.
The narrowness of the Sara Long Bridge forces the tugboats to cast upriver instead of guiding the large vessels through the bridge pass.

The Piscataqua River handles an average of 185 vessles per year. The largest ship to conduct business on the river is the Spanish ship CSL Metice which is performing an ongoing route from Spain into Newington. Irving oil tankers are the most frequent visitors. Their average weight entering the port is 50,000 tons.

The risk of losing business in the port to Boston or Portland could have a large economic impact on the area. It could have a trickle down effect on employment from the port workers to the truck drivers delivering goods to the region.

Captain Holt explained that Memorial Bridge project was a New Hampshire project and the Sara Long Bridge is a Maine project. He questions whether Maine will ever be willing spend the funds to expand the bridge from its current plans to replace the bridge as is rather than widening it accommodate the larger ships. Captain Holt is not sure who needs to be convinced to make the bridge larger than currently proposed. Is it Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, NH and Maine DOT's? The main question Captain Holt raises is what are we doing to remain competitive for the next 100 years?

Thank you to Captain Holt for raising awareness to the community on this important topic. The 50/50 bonus will continue into next week! See you all then.