The brand new Steamship Authority ferry Woods Hole is well underway on her maiden voyage, a 2,200 mile trip to Fairhaven. The ferry left Louisiana, where she was built, on Tuesday evening at 9:30 p.m.

Woods Hole is expected to arrive in Fairhaven late Sunday or early Monday.

Courtesy Steamship Authority

Woods Hole is expected to arrive in Fairhaven late Sunday or early Monday.

Courtesy Steamship Authority

As of 6 a.m. Friday, the Woods Hole was sailing at 16.5 knots off West Palm Beach, Fla., according to a status upate sent by Steamship Authority governor Robert Ranney, who represents Nantucket. The weather was clear with light southeast wind and two foot sea swells. The vessel is running well and the weather picture looks good ahead, the status update said.

The voyage is expected to take five or six days, traveling around the clock. Extra fuel was stowed aboard in portable tanks so that the vessel will not have to stop for refueling.

The vessel is expected to arrive at the Steamship Authority repair facility in Fairhaven Sunday evening or Monday morning. From there she will eventually travel to the port from which she takes her name. The Woods Hole, which can carry 384 passengers on the upper decks, and 10 tractor trailer trucks on the freight deck, is scheduled to begin service between Woods Hole and Oak Bluffs on June 17.

Follow the voyage of the Woods Hole at marinetraffic.com.