The word on the F/V Westward, the 136-foot Dutch built trawler that has been moored in Boothbay Harbor since 2012, is still the same. Owner James Sheehy said, via telephone on June 16, that final repairs will be completed in the next few months and the Westward will be returned to its former glory, and will be fishing for herring and mackerel again soon.

The Westward came to Boothbay Harbor to be repaired at the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard. Since its arrival, the rusty vessel has mostly been moored at a Shipyard mooring in the harbor. In 2013, it briefly slipped off its mooring, but was retrieved without incident by Bill Hallinan.

Harbor Master Nick Upham said he has some concerns about the vessel, but as long as it is afloat and secured on a private mooring he has no reason to intervene.

“I have concerns. There is no propeller or fuel on the boat and it seems to be slowly starting to list,” Upham said. “I expected it to be hauled out and finished last year.”

Shipyard manager Eric Graves said he hopes to be hauling the Westward soon to complete repairs. “It has a new engine, new fishing gear and lots of new equipment,” Graves said. “It would be great to see it repaired, painted and heading out with a full crew on board.”

Boat owner Sheehy, of Gloucester, Mass., has been involved in marine-related industries, including fishing, for most of his life, and this is his second time around with the 53-year-old Westward.

To some, the Westward may seem like a rust bucket, but Sheehy has a longer and broader view of its history and its potential.

The Westward was built in Holland in the 1960s, where it fished in the North Sea for cod and herring, he said. “It was built in an era when there were no junkers built,” Sheehy said. “That steel hull is still strong; it was exceptionally well built.”

After fishing the North Sea, the Westward ventured west to the United States, where its new owners decided to embark on a more profitable, but slightly more risky venture — drug running.

Sheehy said the Westward did less well at smuggling than fishing. U.S. drug enforcement officials seized the Westward off the Carolinas, its hull stuffed with its first haul of marijuana, and it became property of the U.S. government.

Because it was seized by the U.S., Sheehy said the Westward is no longer considered a foreign fishing vessel and can fish out of U.S. ports.

“After being sold at auction, it was fitted out as a scalloper and fished out of New Bedford for a few years,” Sheehy said. “It was then sold and rigged for midwater trawling for herring and mackerel.” Sheehy first became involved with the Westward, as a silent partner, during its midwater trawling days. After a few years, he sold his share of the vessel to his ex-partner, but became owner again years later.

“Eight years ago, it was back up for sale, and I had a fishing permit that matched,” Sheehy said about his decision to buy the Westward.

Now, Sheehy said he is committed to finishing the repair job he started and seeing the Westward fishing again.

“We’re going to get her back and it’s going to look pretty when it’s done,” Sheehy said.