About

Portland Cruise Control is a grassroots volunteer organization established to address concerns about the environmental and human impacts of cruise ships in Portland, Maine. Our goal is to research, develop, and implement solutions. We are currently investigating fuel and scrubber use, air emissions and water pollution from toxic scrubber wash discharge, communication protocols for norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships, and financial data to calculate the costs of hosting cruise ships.

Portland Cruise Control meets monthly, alternating between in-person meetings at Hill House, 92 Congress Street, and zoom.

Contact: info@portlandcruisecontrolmaine.org

Current Projects

Scrubber Wash Ban proposal: to be discussed Fall 2025 with the Sustainability & Transportation Committee
Norovirus Communications Protocol: a process by which to alert Portland residents, tourists, and Old Port employees if a ship has an outbreak of contagious disease
Reporting: encourage all residents to use See Click Fix to report cruise ship complaints directly to the city
Cost-Benefit analysis of cruise ships in Portland
Education: sharing local and industry environmental information and news on BlueSky

Co-founders

Matthew Day

Matthew is a longtime social science professor, social worker, and environmental activist. While a Maine native he has also traveled extensively throughout the United States. He first moved to Portland in1988 and always enjoys coming home where he spends his free time supporting the community gardens and protecting the environmental and cultural landscape of the city.

JoAnn Locktov

JoAnn first learned about the destructive nature of the cruise ship industry when she worked in Venice, Italy. She witnessed how a historic port community was threatened by the relentless damage of cruise ships. Writing, fund raising and education became a part of her professional practice as an international publicist. Now, living in Portland, JoAnn continues her work as an environmental activist working to protect Casco Bay and her community from the harm of uncontrolled cruise ship tourism.

Maggy Wolf

Maggy is a retired IT systems analyst who moved to Portland in 2014. She was a founding member of the Portland Climate Action Team and has served as a board member and President of the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization. As a year-round swimmer at the East End Beach, Maggy was shocked to learn that cruise ships emit millions of gallons of toxic scrubber wash into Casco Bay. She is now working to educate her neighbors and find solutions to the air, water, and noise pollution caused by cruise ships.