BATH — To reflect its merger with the Portland Harbor Museum, the Maine Maritime Museum has created an exhibit titled “Port of Portland: A Ship-Shaped History.”

The exhibit opens Saturday and will remain on view through May 13, 2012, at the museum on Washington Street.

“‘Port of Portland’ presents a vision of the city’s history as portrayed by the ships that have transited Portland Head to clear Spring Point Ledge, a series of vessels as diverse as the different eras they represent; vessels that have brought hope, grief, sustenance, outrage, prosperity, disappointment, amusement, and a good day’s work to the people of the entire region,” a museum release states.

“ From the 18th century sloop Portland Packet to the 19th century steamer Portland

(New England’s Titanic) to the 20th century AfraMax tanker Overseas Portland, an interplay of floating tonnage has defined this same 2,000- plus acres of deep- water anchorage for more than 350 years,” the release continues.

“From the 1775 bombardment of HMS Canceaux (that burned then-Falmouth to the ground) to the fireworks welcoming the world’s largest passenger liner RMS Queen Mary 2, Portland has launched, courted and sheltered legions of ships, both the famous and the work-aday clippers, schooners, destroyers, Liberty ships, seiners, tugs, box-boats and bulkers,” the release states.

The new exhibit aims to capture and share the maritime heritage of Maine’s largest city.

For more information, visit www.mainemaritimemuseum.org.