{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/portland-shipyard-receives-nearly-1-million-federal-grant-replace-aging", "Portland Shipyard Receives Nearly $1 Million Federal Grant to Replace Aging Boat Lift", "2017-09-06", "2017", "2017-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, MAINE\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) announced today that Portland Ship Yard would receive a $990,500 federal Small Shipyard Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Funds will be used to replace an aging boat lift that has hindered the shipyard\u2019s ability to serve Casco Bay\u2019s commercial fleet.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cAnyone who makes their living on the water knows that a day without an operational boat means a day of losing money. With so many commercial vessels in Casco Bay, the local economy depends on having a place like Portland Ship Yard to get boats back on the water as quickly as possible,\u201d said Congresswoman Pingree. \u201cWith frequent needs for repairs, the shipyard\u2019s aging lift created many delays and other challenges. This federal investment will enable Portland Shipyard to replace a piece of equipment that is essential to keeping our commercial fleet up and running.\u201d\nAccording to the U.S. DOT\u2019s Maritime Administration, the Small Shipyard Grant Program provides grants for capital and related improvements to qualified shipyard facilities to fostering efficiency, competitive operations, and quality ship construction, repair, and reconfiguration.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tPortland Shipyard serves a bustling port with a healthy commercial fishing fleet, public agency vessels, such as fireboats and pilot boats, and ferries serving rural islands throughout Casco Bay. Its aging mobile boat hoist, however, has challenged operations. Portland Shipyard\u2019s current mobile boat hoist has sustained down time on at least 225 days since the beginning of 2014. Safety concerns also have made the current lift practically unusable for all but the lightest vessels, as heavier vessels challenge the limits of the aging machine\u2019s capabilities.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe grant will replace the lift with a new 330-ton mobile boat hoist.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/portland-shipyard-receives-nearly-1-million-federal-grant-replace-aging"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0026260279119015, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}