Printer-friendly version

Contributed by Jack McAdam 2007-04-13

South Portland — A little piece of Maine's history that is tied to today's federal fisheries research in New England can be found on the wall of the Key Bank in South Portland. Almost 40 years ago, a half-hull model of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research vessel Delaware II, a 155-ft. stern trawler, was built by South Portland resident and master model maker Roger Belanger. Belanger was then employed by the ship's builder, South Portland Engineering Company, and was involved with all aspects of the ship's construction.

Commissioned in 1968, Delaware II had a shaky beginning. The ship was partially constructed when a spectacular fire destroyed it to the point it had to be rebuilt. Most of the plans were lost in the fire, so Portland Engineering had to use elevation and half breadth plans to get started with reconstruction. In the meantime, General Electric bought Portland Engineering except for the shipbuilding division, which made the situation even worse. Experienced workers left for more stable jobs, and inexperienced workers took their places. Construction was further slowed because the workers knew they would be laid off after Delaware II was completed and the division closed down. When a Scotsman hired to design the shell plate of the ship disappeared before his work was done, ship model maker Roger Belanger stepped in to help. He constructed a 1/2 inch to the foot half-hull model that was used for the shell plan, and he additionally created all the patterns for the shell plating. Bath Iron Works did the actual bending of the steel. Trouble again struck when the shipfitters reversed the starboard and port plates, which then had to be remade. Roger also made the Delaware II name boards from teak

Despite these setbacks, Delaware II was launched in 1967. She was built in a basin used to construct Liberty Ships during World War II. The ship, now home ported in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, is commanded by CDR Richard Wingrove. She plies the waters of New England and the mid-Atlantic to gauge the health and abundance of fish stocks. She occasionally pays a visit to Portland. The surveys and research performed from her decks provide an understanding of the physical and biological processes of key commercial fish species. Delaware II's half-hull model was privately owned for many years, and recently resurfaced in the same city in which the ship was built. Surfing the internet one day in 2000 Mr. Belanger found the Delaware II’s home page and e-mailed me this incredible story. My name is Jack McAdam, a resident of Springvale, ME, and former Captain of the Delaware II. I sailed on the Delaware II for almost 30 years and have been employed with NOAA for 34 years.

Mr. Belanger is on the left side of the model and I am on the right.