The ferry Martha’s Vineyard was pulled from service again Wednesday morning because of a generator issue and is headed to the Fairhaven maintenance facility for repairs, Steamship Authority representatives confirmed.
The ferry Martha’s Vineyard was pulled from service again Wednesday morning because of a generator issue and is headed to the Fairhaven maintenance facility for repairs, Steamship Authority representatives confirmed.
Marc Hanover, the Vineyard representative on the Steamship Authority board of governors, told the Gazette that the boat line decided to pull the ferry out of service after discovering a problem with the generator. The ferry was still running under its own power, he said.
According to a statement by Steamship Authority general manager Robert Davis, the issue was discovered Tuesday night, and in light of a recent power outage aboard the ferry the decision was made to take the vessel out of service for additional work and testing.
A contractor responsible for a recent $18.5 million mid-life refurbishment of the boat is on-site at the Steamship Authority facility to work with the SSA maintenance team on the issue.
The Steamship Authority said the Martha’s Vineyard would be out of service for up to a week. In the meantime the freight ferry Sankaty will run the Martha’s Vineyard’s published schedule, Mr. Davis said. There are limited passenger amenities aboard the Sankaty, he said, but he did not expect that to affect passenger traffic. Because the Sankaty has less space for vehicles, there may be delays transporting vehicles to and from the Vineyard, he said.
“We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause,” Mr. Davis said in the statement. “The safe and reliable operation of all Steamship Authority vessels is our highest priority.”
A scheduled Woods Hole trip was cancelled earlier Wednesday because the Martha’s Vineyard was taking up the ferry slip, Mr. Hanover said, but otherwise the Woods Hole is running as scheduled.
The most recent ferry concern comes after a week of ferry woes for the Steamship Authority, including an incident Saturday night in which the Martha’s Vineyard lost power off East Chop with more than 70 passengers aboard. The boat had to be towed back to port in a five-hour ordeal and was out of service for a day. It resumed making runs Monday morning after being cleared by the Coast Guard, and Steamship Authority representatives said the problem was traced to a poor installation job by an electrician that worked on the refurbishment.
The Martha’s Vineyard was pulled from service again Wednesday morning because of the discovery of the generator issue, Mr. Hanover said. Boats are not allowed to run without a back-up generator per the Coast Guard, he said, and the decision was made to send the ferry back to the Steamship Authority’s maintenance facility in Fairhaven to get all issues addressed.
“It’s got a few things that aren’t functioning,” Mr. Hanover said. He said the ferry was running under its own power but accompanied by a tugboat, as required by the Coast Guard.
“I don’t know if this is because we rushed the boat [to get it back into service],” Mr. Hanover said.
He said he expected the ferry issues to be resolved by the busy summer season. “These boats are excellent boats and they’re going to run fine,” he said. “They’re just shaking them out.”
Comments
For those of us who are
William EdgFor those of us who are traveling in the next week or so a little more info would be helpful. Are we only running freight boats at this time? When does the Island Home return? What about the Nantucket? Are all reservations being honored now and in to the foreseeable future? Are there certain boats that might not be able to accommodate all passengers? I.E. should you consider alternate departure times if you must get off for a Dr. appointment or a plane or for whatever reason?
I'm curious for my returning family. Others must be needing information as well.
No passengers are affected?
Ebba Hierta West TisburyNo passengers are affected? Well, accept anyone reserved on a ferry MV run for the next few weeks, right? Mr. Hanover, can you please get some information out to us now about the SSA backup plan? What's up? Do we need to reschedule?
Let’s hope they get this
Gary OBLet’s hope they get this right... I would rather spend the money on the boats and crew, than a new multi million waiting room....
Bring back the Uncatena!
Liz S OB/New RochelleBring back the Uncatena!
Bring back the trireme.
Nelson Sigelman Vineyard HavenBring back the trireme.
It's now called the Woods
Jeff Baker Prospect MaineIt's now called the Woods Hole !
When do we get a choice !
Jay V.HWhen do we get a choice ! ‘This is America 2018 .End the state sponsored MONOPOLY
Maybe the geniuses who run
charlie callahan so boston/edgartownMaybe the geniuses who run the authority should have invested in a new vessel instead of a 5 star terminal to buy A BOAT TICKET. And now they will try and blame the poor guys who try to maintain these rust buckets. Just like in the Navy, throwing good money into old vessels
So here we are on Wednesday,
RT WTSo here we are on Wednesday, and winds were at or just over 20mph for the day, and while we can anticipate the boats usually shutting down when winds hit 29+, we find the entire days runs have been canceled due to "weather conditions". Is this a fact? How is it that the days boats are shut down at 20 mph winds, when I do not recall them shutting down at such speeds before, but this coincides with one break down after another. If the boats are shut down for another reason, then fine, but be honest with the people who rely on the boats. It just makes the SSA look deceptive.
For those who are moaning and
GinnyFor those who are moaning and groaning about the rust bucket boats, keep in mind that the ISLAND HOME (which was very expensive) is now only about 13 years old while the WOODS HOLE, is less than 2 years old and cost well over $40 M. The IYANNOUGH (which runs to Nantucket) was new in 2007. Those are hardly old rust buckets. What would work better would be to build a utilitarian design -- something like the ISLANDER (who would now be pushing onto 65 or so years old) or the GOVERNOR (similar age) -- which probably qualifies them as old rust buckets in some minds. Build them with a bit more passenger accommodation and some other improvements (neither is without their flaws) -- instead of more and more glitzy,high tech boats with all sorts of passenger inducements. Keep in mind folks that it is only 45 minutes from WH to MV -- passengers could have some pleasurable down time instead of fancier and fancier boats at greater and greater expense. Considering how much has been spent in the past couple of years, the SSA must be about at its bonding limit. As I've written before, the late Ed Coogan, Tisbury Selectman and lawyer, described the ferries as "our ride home, our only ride home." Please respect them and the crews and keep in mind that we live on an island (most of us by choice) which gives us almost limitless benefits (over mainland living) as well as requiring some sacrifices. The latter could include the significantly higher cost of living, or the difficulty of scheduling stuff on the mainland. Through most of the year with no problems they keep us moving and they keep us safe. It is time however, to ask for some fiscal information from the island Governor Mr Hanover, and review it carefully. It is also time to accept that wind and weather, as well as mechanical breakdowns may cause some issues, particularly in winter.
By the way, all of the SSA boats have to be Coast Guard inspected -- presumably the CG is reviewing their procedures because a boat which has just had a $17.5 M refit (hardly chump change) should have had sea trials and inspections to insure her safety and readiness to return to service. Thus, the problems of the MARTHA'S VINEYARD are rather unsettling. So are those of the WOODS HOLE.
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