Mainebiz

V O L . X X X I N O. X X S E P T E M B E R 8 , 2 0 2 5 6 College enrollment up Two major systems of higher educa- tion reported increases in enrollment. University of Maine System will start its fall semester with at least 25,000 students, reflecting continued enrollment growth. Numbers were calculated through Aug. 28, but it was expected that enrollment would continue to increase through the start of the semester, Tuesday, Sept. 2. An official count of students will take place in October. It's the system's sixth con- secutive semester of enrollment gains. Meanwhile, the Maine Community College System said 15,976 students have enrolled for the fall semester so far, an increase of 3.2% from a year ago. Final fall community college enrollment numbers will be calculated on Oct. 15. N O T E W O R T H Y S T A T E W I D E Associated General Contractors of Maine received national recognition as a recipient of an AGC Chapter Safety Award. The award was bestowed by AGC of America as part of its National AGC Safety Awards program in the category of chapters with 126 to 250 members. Portland's taxable real estate now worth $19.7 billion e recent revaluation for the city of Portland significantly lowers the mil rate for FY26, but as property values have increased many homeowners are likely to see an increase in property taxes. e total taxable value of real estate in Maine's largest city is now $19.7 billion, an increase of roughly $4.9 billion. Residential properties will contribute over $12 billion in total value, while commercial properties will contribute $7.5 billion. ere are 19,400 residential properties in Portland and 1,920 commercial properties. With expansion still years away, museum plans placeholder Portland Museum of Art is a step closer to its plan to build a 60,000-square-foot addition. A demolition crew is tearing down the adjacent 142 Free St. to make B U S I N E S S M A I N E Business news from around the state S T A T E W I D E S O U T H E R N A yacht built in Rockport B y L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r R ockport Marine is slated to wrap up construction this fall of a 95-foot sailing yacht that's been several years in the making and positions the boatyard to better take on European rivals. While the yacht Ouzel was designed in Newport, R.I., it is the expertise brought by the Rockport boatyard that is getting this boat ready for the high seas. "A yacht like Ouzel would most often be built in Europe, and likely from aluminum or possibly composite," Sam Temple, Rockport Marine's president, told Mainebiz. "This is our bid to compete in that space." Founded in 1962, Rockport Marine specializes in custom wooden boat construction, restoration and design. With 60 employees, the boatyard stores and maintains a fleet of classic wooden boats and usually has some large restora- tions and/or new builds in progress. In this case, Ouzel (whose name pays homage to a variety of blackbird) was designed by Newport, R.I., naval design firm Langan Design Partners LLC. Project management is being provided by Marine Construction Management, a Newport, R.I., firm that specializes in overseeing construction of cus- tom-built, large, luxury yachts often called "superyachts." At Rockpor t Marine, Ouzel is being built using cold-molded wood construc- tion. The process involves layering thin sheets of wood with epoxy resin and is said to create a strong, light hull. The tech- nique yields a strong shell while requiring less framing than a traditional plank-on-frame wooden yacht, said Tom Degremont, a partner at Langan Design. Materials used for the construction of the boat's internal structural grid include carbon fiber, also commonly used in boatbuilding to provide a high strength-to-weight ratio. Contributing to the carbon fiber and fiberglass components were Steve Hassett and Nate Hassett, family members who own Custom Composites Technologies in Bath. 'Wilder places' Ouzel's owners are experienced boaters whose previous yacht was a 64-footer from a high-end builder in Finland called Baltic Yachts, according to a news release. They will use Ouzel, which was designed to their specifica- tions, for an extensive remote cruising itinerary. "They are interested in exploring wilder places," said Temple. "The boat's systems and to some degree construc- tion details reflect that brief." The design combines a classic above-the waterline look with a modern underbody. "When the clients were choosing a builder they were focused on Maine boatbuilding, and they have given an opportunity for this unique industry to show the best it has to offer," said Temple, a third-generation boatbuilder. "Maine and, more broadly, the U.S. Northeast contains a confluence of marine tradespeople, allowing elements of work to be shared across multiple shops." In boatbuilding, Maine has a strong reputation. The yacht's owners "already knew they wanted to build in Maine and understood our construction methods," said Temple. Construction of initial parts began in late 2022. It's expected that the boat will be launched this fall, followed by sea trials with the goal of allowing Ouzel to sail away for the winter. SP ONSORED BY Ouzel's hull is seen in late 2023, when it emerged from the building and was turned over. The wood is visible as well as carbon-and-foam composite bulkheads used in high-load areas. P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F B I L LY B L A C K P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F B I L LY B L A C K R E N D E R I N G / C O U R T E S Y O F L A N G A N D E S I G N PA R T N E R S The rendering gives a good sense of what Ouzel will look like when launched. A Rockport Marine employee works inside the hull in one of the areas reinforced with carbon fiber and other materials.

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