Newbuilds & Orders
Maine State Ferry Service commissions hybrid ferry Capt. Almer Dinsmore
WorkBoat reported on 6 November 2026 that the Maine State Ferry Service commissioned its first hybrid diesel-electric ferry, the Capt. Almer Dinsmore, on 5 November in Rockland for the Rockland–Vinalhaven route. The 154 ft by 38 ft ferry carries 250 passengers and 23 vehicles. Passenger service is scheduled to begin on 9 November.
Source: WorkBoat (opens in a new tab)
WorkBoat reported on 6 November 2026 that the Maine State Ferry Service commissioned its first hybrid diesel-electric ferry, the Capt. Almer Dinsmore, on 5 November in Rockland, Maine, for service between Rockland and Vinalhaven.
Built by Senesco Marine in North Kingstown, R.I., the 154 ft by 38 ft passenger-vehicle ferry was designed by Gilbert Associates of Braintree, Mass. The vessel accommodates 250 passengers and 23 vehicles. Passenger service is scheduled to begin on 9 November.
Construction began in 2022, and the ferry was launched and christened in November 2024. It arrived in Rockland in July 2026 ahead of crew familiarization and Coast Guard inspections.
The ferry is a hybrid sister vessel to the Capt. Richard G. Spear, another Gilbert-designed ferry built for the Maine State Ferry Service. The Spear was constructed by Steiner Shipyard in Bayou La Batre, Ala.
U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree attended the commissioning. In an Instagram post she described the ferry as “a crucial investment in modernizing our state’s ferry fleet,” and wrote: “It’s also a great example of how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to make real, transformative impacts in our communities.”
The ferry honors Capt. Almer Leighton Dinsmore. WorkBoat, citing MaineDOT, says his 45-year career at sea included service aboard vessels worldwide. He joined the Maine State Ferry Service in 1978 and retired in 2013. He initially piloted the Everett Libby on the Swan’s Island route and worked as a relief captain before becoming the Libby’s permanent captain in 1987.