Bangor Harbor

Marinas near Bangor Harbor

Introduction:

The city of Bangor is located 21 miles up the Penobscot River from where it empties into Penobscot Bay at Cape Jellison. Geographically, Bangor is 38 miles north-northwest of Mount Desert Island and 48 miles north of Vinalhaven Island.

The image above is a view from the northeast looking southwest over the Penobscot River and the Bangor waterfront. This view provides an excellent overview of the bridges that cross the Penobscot River. The bridge names from north to south (bottom to top) are named or described as follows: a low fixed vertical clearance railroad bridge (clearance not charted), the Penobscot Bridge (clearance not charted), the Chamberlain Bridge (22-foot fixed vertical clearance), and finally, the Interstate 395 Bridge (74-foot fixed vertical clearance).

The Bangor downtown area is visible off the right (west) side of the Penobscot River between the I-395 and Chamberlain bridges, as is the Bangor Landing Waterfront Park--the only marine facility in town. There are no overnight tie-ups at the waterfront park, but many boats anchor out just offshore, and then dinghy in to the docks where tie-ups for tenders are allowed.

Navigating the Water:

Use NOAA Charts 13303 and 13309.

The passage to Bangor and the exploration of the Penobscot River begins at Fort Point Ledge east of Cape Jellison and a small distance northwest of Wilson Point. Current flow from the Penobscot River is fierce at its mouth--you will want to arrive during an incoming tide.

Approaching from Penobscot Bay, first set a course to intercept the Fort Point Ledge Light (“2”), which is located at an approximate position of N44 27.657 W68 48.610, and then head north, making sure you leave green can buoy “1” well to starboard as you pass it.

From green can buoy “1,” set and follow a new course of about 030 degrees magnetic for about 2.3 miles. This will run you though the following buoys: green can buoy “3,” red nun buoy “4” and green can buoy “5.”

Clear of the previously mentioned buoys, continue north from green can buoy “5” toward quick flashing red buoy “6” and red daybeacon “6A,” both of which mark the location of dangerous Odom Ledge.

Past Odom Ledge, the river deepens and narrows between Verona Island and the mainland before you reach the Verona Bridge (135-foot fixed vertical clearance), which is located just south of the town of Bucksport.

The rest of the journey upstream to Bangor is fairly uneventful, but be sure to follow specific aids to navigation where they are placed--especially at Franklin Flats, about four miles upstream from Bucksport.

There are two primary fixed bridges in Bangor, and a series of smaller low-vertical-clearance fixed bridges, but most boaters do not travel past the first bridge (the Interstate 395 Bridge), as a second bridge with a low vertical clearance--and additional low fixed bridges upstream--limit navigation for most. Additionally, depths shallow quickly upstream past the second (Chamberlain) bridge heading toward the Penobscot Reservoir.

Local Notices to Mariners:

Local Notices to Mariners are available online from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Helpful Links:

City of Bangor, Maine

Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau

Bangor Calendar of Events

Bangor International Airport