The Casco Bay Mailboat is a sailing vessel, run by

Casco Bay Lines Casco Bay Lines (also known as the Casco Bay Island Transit District, CBITD) is a publicly run transportation company that services the residents of the islands of Casco Bay. These islands include Peaks Island, Little Diamond Island, Great Diam ...

, which delivers mail and other items to the residents of the islands of

Casco Bay Casco Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Maine on the southern coast of Maine, New England, United States. Its easternmost approach is Cape Small and its westernmost approach is Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth. The city of Portland sits along its south ...

Maine Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...

, United States. It is the longest-running mailboat service in the country, having been in existence since the 1870s. Up until the 1950s, the boat was coal-powered; now it runs on a diesel engine. Currently undertaken by the ''Maquoit II'', one of Casco Bay Lines' three mail boats, the service runs twice daily. The route takes around three hours and visits five islands: Little Diamond Island,

Great Diamond Island Great Diamond Island is an island in Casco Bay, Maine, United States. It is part of the city of Portland, Maine. At the 2000 census, the island had a year-round population of 77. The island is not accessible from the mainland by motor vehicle and ...

Long Island Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United Sta ...

, Great Chebeague Island and

Cliff Island Cliff Island is an island in Casco Bay, Maine, United States. It is part of the city of Portland. As of the 2000 census, the island had a year-round population of approximately 60 people. In the summer, the island's population grows to about ...

. Passengers are permitted on the boat, and tourists can alight at Long Island, Great Chebeague Island and Cliff Island; the Diamonds, meanwhile, are private, with no public beaches, facilities or restaurants. If there are ten or more passengers, a route narration is provided. The route takes the boat beside landmarks such as

Fort Gorges Fort Gorges is a former United States military fort built on Hog Island Ledge in Casco Bay, Maine. Built from 1858 to 1864, no battles were fought there and no troops were stationed there. Advancing military technology, including iron clad ship ...

and Luckse Sound, where ships were torpedoed during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. The mailboat is based at the

Maine State Pier The Maine State Pier is a municipal-owned deepwater marine facility and music venue located at the intersection of Commercial Street and Franklin Street on the eastern waterfront in Portland, Maine. It was completed in 1924. In the mid-2000s, co ...

and departs at 10.00 AM and 2.15 PM.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Casco Bay Mailboat Ferries of Maine Casco Bay Transportation in Portland, Maine Chebeague Island, Maine