Fire-ravaged boatyard poised for a comeback

PORTLAND – A month after it was destroyed by fire, the Washburn & Doughty Associates boatyard in East Boothbay is poised for a quicker comeback than many people expected.

The July 11 fire touched off fuel explosions and charred three tugboats that were under construction. One of the tugs was a total loss, another appears salvageable and one is still being assessed.

Meanwhile, work is set to begin on a temporary boatyard next door, where workers will start building two new tugs in about a week.

The cleanup of the burned-out site is expected to be completed by the end of this week, and the site could be back in operation in eight months to a year, said Lee Smith, the yard’s chief operating officer.

“The attitude is very can-do and determined,” Smith said.

There were no injuries among the 80 workers who were on the job when sparks from cutting and welding work ignited the fire that was fed by diesel fuel and canisters of propane and acetylene.

Boatyard executives wasted no time contemplating the losses sustained by Boothbay’s largest employer before developing their response, said Deborah Elliott, a business development specialist with the state Department of Economic and Community Development.

“The fire was still burning in the background and they had an action list of who would do what and where,” Elliott said.

Smith said 35 workers have been kept on to help with cleaning, demolition and salvage work. By the end of September, he expects to have all 75 employees back on the payroll, and subcontractors will slowly be called back.

The boatyard had insurance, Smith noted, and the fire will allow Washburn & Doughty to upgrade to an extent that would have been difficult, if not impossible, before the fire.

“This gives you a window to really optimize the real estate that’s down there in the most efficient and optimum way.” Smith said.