Report Review
After a multi-year hiatus, the City of Baltimore Docks and Walls are back in business! We visited June 13 and 14 during the “soft opening” before the facility was listed on Dockwa. During the winter, I had done extensive research online and found the city facility to be an excellent place for a two-night layover to retrovision, shower, be tourists and meet additional crew at the train station. The West Wall, Finger Piers and Wharves 3, 4 and 5 are in a great central location along the 8-mile Waterfront Promenade. There are three food supermarkets within walkable distance from the Harbormaster’s Office (and one much less from other walls, such as Pier 5)
Giant Food- 0.9 mi south from Harbormaster’s Office
Harris Teeter - 1.4 mi south from Harbormaster’s Office
Whole Foods Market - Harbor East - 1.7mi around Promenade from the Harbormaster’s Office - 0.6 mi south, then east from Pier 5 (a 12 minute walk)
Penn Station- Baltimore’s main RR station is 2.4 miles from the Dockmaster’s Office ( much less from other walls and the finger piers)
After advance emails with Mike McGeady, the Harbormaster, we reserved a slip with electric power at the Finger Piers opposite the Visitors Center (currently closed) with a close stern-on view of the USS Constellation.
All the ships of the Historic Ships of Baltimore museum were in view from our berth: USS Constellation, submarine USS Torsk and the USCG Cutter Taney - the last surviving warship afloat from the 1941 attack on Pear Harbor.
Also viewable were the lightship Chesapeake and the Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse (1855) oldest MD screw pile lighthouse (Pier 5). Among them, along the Promenade were the National Aquarium and Maryland Science Center.
The facilities in the Harbormasters office were excellent - newly renovated showers, a state-of-the-art laundromat and a comfortable Guest Lounge. All were available to us 24/7 with our pass keys. While we didn’t need to use them, Gas and Diesel, Pump-out, Ice, and Water were available at the dock in front of the Harbormasters Office. You can’t miss it. These are all located beneath the second-floor Rusty Scupper restaurant with a very prominent red neon sign.