BAR HARBOR, Maine (AP) — The Maine Seacoast Mission’s ship Sunbeam V is ready to resume bringing telemedicine, meals, fellowship care and cups of coffee to the people who live in Maine’s year-round island communities.
The steel-hulled ship, which underwent a $1.5 million overhaul at Front Street Shipyard in Belfast, is getting back to work just in time to deliver flu-shot clinics for islanders.
The overhaul took longer than expected. The exterior of the boat was in decent shape, but the interior had to be gutted because of extensive rusting, said Graham Fitch, Front Street Shipyard’s project manager for the Sunbeam.
The Sunbeam serves the islands of Frenchboro, Great Cranberry, Isle au Haut, Islesboro, Islesford, Matinicus, Monhegan, North Haven, Swan’s Island and Vinalhaven.
Five crew members — the captain, engineer, steward, nurse and community outreach director — live aboard the boat.
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