On-water assistance provider Sea Tow Services International Inc. has announced that Capt. Bruce White and Capt. Matt Wilder are the new owners of Sea Tow Portland/Midcoast in Maine. Captains White and Wilder, active members of the local marine community, took over operations at the Sea Tow location in the spring.
Sea Tow Portland/Midcoast provides professional on-water assistance to Sea Tow members and other boaters in the Atlantic Ocean and inshore waters of Maine from Goat Island off Cape Porpoise in the south to Pemquid Point to the north. While this is a distance of only about 45 miles as the crow flies, the Sea Tow location’s territory covers a vast amount of shoreline that includes bays, rivers and islands. Captains White and Wilder lead a team that includes three other Sea Tow Captains, utilizing five yellow Sea Tow boats.
Capt. White earned his original U.S. Coast Guard license at age 19, and currently holds U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton inland towing and 50-ton near-coastal licenses. “I enjoy meeting other boaters and look forward to growing the business,” Capt. White said.
Capt. Wilder, who holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton near-coastal towing license, has an extensive knowledge of the local waters.
“I grew up in Boothbay Harbor, which is in our area of responsibility,” he said. “My goal as a Sea Tow operator is to increase the enjoyment of boaters on our coast, and to be known for great customer service.”
The two Sea Tow Captains also operate a water-taxi service in Portland, Maine, where their Sea Tow location is headquartered. They use a 29-foot Terry Jason with a six-passenger capacity to transport people to and from the inhabited islands of Casco Bay, which has a year-round population that grows substantially in the summer months.
“We’re delighted that Capt. White and Capt. Wilder have taken over operations at Sea Tow Portland/Midcoast,” said Capt. Joe Frohnhoefer III, Sea Tow’s chief operating officer. “Their experience and expertise, as well as their dedication to serving others, ensures that Sea Tow members and other boaters in the area will continue to receive the highest level of professional service should they need assistance on the water.”
