9/16/2008
For more information visit: www.harbortech.us

Maine Composites Alliance (MCA), promoting Maine’s leadership in the international composite industry, announces a series of funding grants for Harbor Technologies Inc. portable marine pump-out station and service barge.

Based in Brunswick, Harbor Technologies, Inc. (HTI) is a provider of innovative and cost-effective composite solutions to the marine infrastructure market. HTI has developed a portable, floating marine pump-out station and barge of composite materials.

HTI recently received two significant grants for the composite pump-out station and barge. The Maine Technology Institute (MTI) announced a Seed Grant for HTI for the pump-out station and service barge. Recently, Brunswick-based Paul’s Marina received a grant from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for installation of a Harbor Technologies’ composite pump-out station.

“The support of both the Maine Technology Institute and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection speak to the significance of this project, as well as the ingenuity of Harbor Technologies and the Maine composite industry,” said Steve Von Vogt, Executive Director of the Maine Composites Alliance. “MCA member companies are continually pushing the envelope, searching for new innovative ways to use composites in environmentally-sound applications.”

“The innovative pump-out station and barge are made of environmentally-friendly composite materials, and provide a number of significant improvements over what is currently used by marinas and boaters,” added Erik Grimnes, Marketing Manager for Harbor Technologies. “The technology will help keep our waters clean in Maine and beyond.”

Under current federal laws, boaters are required to empty their holding tanks at marine pump-out facilities. According to Grimnes, many marinas face similar problems with current pump-out facilities including limited capacity, limited mobility, and expensive, non-environmentally friendly designs.

Harbor Technologies' floating pump-out station and barge offer benefits including:

• Higher capacity than traditional facilities.
• Greater mobility; the station and barge can be easily moved and placed anywhere in the water.
• Reduced cost for both design and operation.
• Increased durability, requiring no painting/staining/weatherproofing.
• Environmentally-friendly design of lightweight, composite material.

“The composite pump-out station and barge will further assist the DEP in their effort to protect the environment from the harmful effects of improper waste disposal in coastal areas,” said Grimnes. “The floating pump-out stations will be strategically placed around Casco Bay, and nearly any size vessel could pull up to and properly pump-out their waste holding tank. “

About Harbor Technologies: Harbor Technologies Inc. was founded in 2003 to meet the growing need for environmentally friendly infrastructure solutions for the marine environment. The company manufactures pilings and dock systems out of composite materials that are lightweight, extremely strong, low-maintenance, cost effective, and with significantly longer life than traditional pressure-treated lumber solutions. For more information, call (207) 725-4878, or visit www.harbortech.us

About The Maine Composites Alliance: Founded in 1994, the Maine Composites Alliance is a non-profit group promoting Maine’s leadership in the international composite industry. MCA enhances the competitiveness of Maine’s existing composite industry and its members by providing opportunities for new commercial ventures, and by providing education and training for members and their employees. www.mainecompositesalliance.org