New Bedford homecoming for Charles W. Morgan

The whaling ship Charles W. Morgan makes its way into New Bedford Harbor to return to its port of origin for the first time in 73 years Wednesday, June 25, 2014.

Fairhaven, Massachusetts is seen on the Eastern shore as the whaling ship Charles W. Morgan makes its way into New Bedford Harbor to return to its port of origin for the first time in 73 years Wednesday, June 25, 2014.

Crew members on the historic whaleship Charles W. Morgan go aloft to loose the upper topsails as the ship sails in Buzzards Bay en route from Martha's Vineyard to New Bedford Wednesday, June 25, 2014.

Passengers on the vessel Jaguar snap photos as crew on the historic whaleship Charles W. Morgan furl the forestaysail while under way in Buzzards Bay en route from Martha's Vineyard to New Bedford Wednesday, June 25, 2014.

Sunrise lights the historic whaleship Charles W. Morgan docked at Tisbury Wharf in Vineyard Haven Harbor Wednesday, June 25, 2014, prior to its departure to New Bedford.

The whaling ship Charles W. Morgan makes its way through the hurricane barrier heading into New Bedford Harbor to return to its port of origin for the first time in 73 years Wednesday, June 25, 2014.

The whaleship Charles W. Morgan arrives in its historic homeport of New Bedford Wednesday, June 25, 2014.

Whaleboats from local organizations row around as the whaleship Charles W. Morgan arrives in its historic homeport of New Bedford Wednesday, June 25, 2014.

As the Morgan returns to its old homeport Wednesday, June 25, 2014, for the first time since 1941, it is being celebrated as a lucky ship that survived epic storms and Arctic ice. But its greatest luck was withstanding the sustained indifference of the city that launched it on its globe-spanning career.