Why You May Be Seeing Odd Colored Smoke Around Portland, Maine

There's going to be a lot of visitors to Portland, Maine, this spring and summer. The city continues to be a beacon of tourism for the state and was recently named among the best vacation destinations that don't require a passport.

While many people will visit Portland by air and by car, thousands of people will be visiting by boat. Portland has a robust cruise ship schedule for 2025, adding another layer of potential patrons for the shops and restaurants in town.

While that cruise ship schedule may be robust, many residents noticed something odd on the water this week. An unscheduled, massive cruise ship has docked itself on the Portland waterfront.

The MSC Meraviglia Has Docked in Portland, Maine, For Repairs

One of the most impressive cruise liners in the world is currently docked on the Portland waterfront for some minor repair work. That would be the MSC Meraviglia, which can house nearly 4,500 passengers.

The ship is considered an industry leader thanks to its two-deck promenade which serves as a rotating carousel of sorts. The interior of the ship also holds a large theater that has the capacity to put on a Broadway show.

Some Portland, Maine, Residents Noticed Odd Colored Smoke Coming From The Ship

While repairs are the reason MSC Meraviglia is docked in Portland, there's also a cleanup underway on the ship as well.

According to environmentally conscious group Portland Protectors, MSC Meravina is running scrubbers, which remove a variety of toxins from the ship's exhaust. Some of that waste will be dumped into the harbor and some of it moves out through the typical exhaust system. That's why the ship has an ugly brownish smoke emitting from it.

The MSC Meraviglia is expected to depart Portland, Maine, by this weekend.