Fact: The term "maritime" means "connected to the sea." Fact: oceans cover 71 percent of our planet's surface.

Therefore, it only stands to reason that the three-day Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival, taking place Friday through Sunday along New London's waterfront, has a better chance of comprehensively celebrating All Things Oceanic and Nutmeggy than the event's usual two-day run. For one thing, in addition to its status as a celebration of the sea and the state's maritime history, the fest is one of the final events of the 100th anniversary of the Naval Submarine Base and Naval Submarine School.

But there's another significant anniversary that comes into play.

"We have so much going on that it made sense to add an additional day," said Bruce McDonald, chief operating officer of the fourth annual festival. "Friday's the traditional kickoff day, and Saturday's always big. But this year, Sunday is also the 15th anniversary of 9/11 and we wanted very much to commemorate that. We approached the Navy about a remembrance ceremony, and they very much took the ball and ran with it."

The 9/11 observance, organized by the Groton Chief Petty Officers Association and a group of Chief Selectees, is multi-faceted. It will include a U.S. Navy Flag Retirement Ceremony, a Remembrance Ceremony at City Pier including remarks and presentations by dignitaries, a Navy rifle volley, and the Subase's battery team firing its cannon at appropriate moments. Also, a group of first responders will board the Wronowksi tug Patricia Ann to render a salute with a water cannon and local florists have donated flowers the first responders will place in the water. The Ledyard vocal group Cono Dolce and the Coast Guard Academy's Cadet A Cappella Group will perform.

"It should be a very memorable occasion," McDonald says, "and it just seemed appropriate to make it part of the festival."

Of course, one of the great appeals of the weekend is the larger-than-life presence of ships and boats. This year, about a dozen vessels will assemble at the Ledge Light at 1 p.m. Friday and head up the Thames River, docking at City Pier, Custom House Pier and Amistad Pier. When they've tied up, the festival's opening ceremony takes place at 3 p.m. on City Pier. After opening remarks will be presented, awards will be given to commanding officers of the sub base and sub school, and Tom Callinan, the original Connecticut State Troubador, will sing.

The festival's participating ships include the Spirit of South Carolina, a 140-foot schooner; the Columbia, a replica of the Gloucester schooner that went down in heavy seas in 1927; the Lettie G. Howard, one of the few surviving fishing schooners in the North Atlantic; and the freedom schooner Amistad.

Two other ships will provide additional interest. The Oliver Hazard Perry out of Newport will take 30 students and chaperones from the New London, Groton and Ledyard school districts on a five-day training sale adventure that concludes in Newport.

"It's the largest civilian training vessel in the U.S.," McDonald says. "The school districts and their superintendents have worked very hard to make this happen, and it's going to be the trip of a lifetime – with perhaps far-reaching ramifications – for these students."

Too, the USS Ramage, a 505-foot Burke Class U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer, will dock at Fort Trumbull State Park's Pier 7 for tours. "It's an amazing contribution to the festival," McDonald says. "This is one of the largest Navy warships to ever visit New London for a public event. All ships and boats will remain docked all weekend for visitors to tour. In previous years, we had a regatta. It was fun, but people would come down hoping to tour the ships and they'd be on the river."

McDonald credits efforts by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, honorary chair of the festival, with securing the Ramage for the occasion.

Saturday's fun component is significant, too. From 11 a.m.-3 p.m., more than 20 area restaurants are scheduled to take part in a chowder cook-off, and there will be whale boat races on the Thames River at 1 p.m. Afternoon music will be provided by Callinan and also the Coast Guard Band's Brass Quintet.

"A lot of people have spent a lot of time over the past few months to make this happen, and we're very grateful," McDonald says. "It's going to be a very colorful festival and a very vibrant part of the celebration of the sub century."

Fourth Annual Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival, 1-5 p.m. Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., New London Waterfront and Fort Trumbull State Park Pier 7; free; ctmaritimefest.com.