A Short History of South Portland’s Working Waterfront
Ferry Village to War Boom (pre-1940s → 1945).
This shoreline started as a small, working waterfront serving fishermen and local shipyards in Ferry Village. During World War II, South Portland became one of America’s busiest shipbuilding centers: two adjoining yards (later merged as New England Shipbuilding) razed parts of Cushing’s Point to launch hundreds of cargo and Liberty ships between 1941–45. The industrial footprint from that era set the stage for the tank farms and piers you see today.
Pipelines, Tank Farms, and the Oil Era (1941 → present).
In 1941, the Portland–Montreal Pipe Line made this harbor a strategic oil gateway, with a marine terminal on the South Portland side and large storage tanks ashore. Over time, additional tank farms and terminals were built to receive, store, and distribute petroleum products across Maine and northern New England. Although crude shipments to Montreal dwindled after 2016, the storage and distribution role here remains significant.
Modern Working Waterfront.
Today, South Portland hosts more than 100 above-ground storage tanks tied to multiple terminals (for heating oil, diesel, kerosene, asphalt and more). Terminals like the South Portland facility operated by Global Partners—just down the shoreline—illustrate the mix of fuels handled here. Community debates over air quality and exports led the city to pass the Clear Skies Ordinance (2014), which prohibits bulk loading of crude oil onto marine tankers while allowing existing terminal operations to continue.
Portland Street Pier (where you’re standing).
City-owned since the 1800s and long used by local fishermen, the Portland Street Pier provides rare public access on this stretch of heavy industry—nestled between Sunset Marina and the tank farms with a panoramic view of Portland’s skyline. The city has been planning upgrades to keep it a viable base for commercial fishing and aquaculture while preserving that public connection to the harbor.
You’re at a small public window into a big working harbor—where lobster boats, marinas, and fuel terminals all share the same tide.