Captain E. Frank Thompson Ferry
Beautiful Coastal Views
AUGUSTA— The Maine Department of Transportation closed the Maine State Ferry Service Rockland Ferry Terminal Wednesday morning in response to an employee testing positive for COVID-19. During the building closure, members of the traveling public can still board ferries in Rockland. They will be able to pay their fares upon arrival at the island terminals.
MaineDOT was informed of the test result this morning and notified coworkers. The department is working with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention to identify close contacts of this individual, who is isolating and was last in the office on March 26th. No members of the public have been identified as close contacts.
MaineDOT temporarily closed the Rockland terminal office as a precaution, to allow time for close contacts to be notified and for appropriate cleaning and sanitizing per guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We expect the building will reopen on Friday morning.
In order to abide by privacy requirements, MaineDOT is limited in releasing further information about this case. We wish our employee a speedy recovery.
All MaineDOT offices have instituted appropriate physical distancing, face covering, and sanitation policies.
Measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 should be taken seriously regardless of the setting. Those measures include maintaining physical distance, wearing a face covering, avoiding gatherings, staying home if you're not feeling well, and speaking to your health care provider if you experience symptoms consistent with COVID-19, such as shortness of breath, fever, and cough.
In accordance with Governor Mills' Executive Orders,anyone on the mainland and island terminal property, in the terminal buildings or riding in the passenger cabins of a Maine State ferry must wear a face covering. We appreciate your compliance with the Governor’s order and your continued cooperation through the COVID-19 emergency.
Consistent with guidance from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, individuals must wear cloth face coverings in public settings regardless of the ability to maintain physical distance. This includes public transportation such as a ferry, and any transit stop or waiting area, inside or outside.
Ferry Terminal locations allow only 3 customers in the terminal at any one time. (Rockland will allow 10).
The ferry vessel cabins are limited to 5 passenger per passenger cabin on the Philbrook, Lee, Burgess, Curtis, and Libby and 10 passengers per cabin on the Thompson, Smith and Spear.
Protecting the health and safety of our passengers and crew is the top priority of the Maine State Ferry Service (MSFS). In close partnership with the Maine CDC, we are taking several steps to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19.
Crews are cleaning and disinfecting vessels before each scheduled departure; this includes wiping down tables and seats, scrubbing bathroom sinks and faucets, and generally cleaning all surfaces with a disinfectant cleanser. Our terminal facilities are also routinely cleaned, including bathrooms, counters, and ticket desks.
We have received questions from customers concerned about having to exchange money or passes with staff. Unfortunately, wireless or hands-free ticket scanning is not available at our terminals. However, to avoid spreading the virus and to keep yourself healthy, the U.S. CDC recommends common sense measures like washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue then throwing the tissue in the trash; and avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Passengers who are sick should stay home and be in touch with their medical provider who will be well-positioned to advise you.
Please be assured that MSFS is working very closely with the Maine CDC, emergency management officials, and local agencies to make sure that we have the latest information and expert guidance on how to minimize exposure to coronavirus. We encourage you to seek information from credible sources, such as the Maine CDC and U.S. CDC. Preparing with facts and science, proven public health measures, and commonsense precautions in our personal lives is the best measure we can take to protect both the people we serve at work and our friends and families at home.
Thank you for your cooperation in this effort. We are committed to your health and safety.
Select a location below to get fares, schedules, vehicle reservation info and more.
