The ferry Woods Hole has been cleared for service and is expected to return to the Vineyard route after two days of trials on the Nantucket route, Steamship Authority general manager Bob Davis said.

Speaking to the Gazette Tuesday morning, Mr. Davis said the freight/passenger/car ferry had been cleared to run by the Coast Guard Monday night. The vessel was sent to the Nantucket route for two days so technicians flown in from Mexico and Vancouver could monitor her on board, he said. The reason for sending the ferry to Nantucket was the length of the work day — the vessel runs a 12-hour day on the Nantucket route and an 18-hour day on the Vineyard route, Mr. Davis said. “We can’t have the technicians on board for longer than 12 hours,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Davis said the ferry Island Home was expected to undergo sea trials in Fairhaven Tuesday and hopefully return to the Vineyard by day’s end. That ferry has been in drydock for routine maintenance but a problem with a bow thruster delayed her return to service, Mr. Davis said.

He said he is hoping to see full service to the Vineyard restored by Thursday, following two weeks of major disruptions in service after breakdowns on both the Woods Hole and the Martha’s Vineyard. On the Woods Hole the problem was traced to a sensor connected to what are called controllable pitch propellers. On the Martha’s Vineyard, which recently underwent a major mid-life refurbishment, there were two different problems, one involving faulty check valves and another involving a backup generator.

The Martha’s Vineyard is back in service, and the boat line has contracted with a privately-owned high-speed passenger ferry to shuttle passengers back and forth. That service is expected to end Thursday if all goes according to plan, Mr. Davis said.

The ferry breakdowns are on the agenda for discussion at the SSA’s port council meeting in Hyannis Wednesday morning. Mr. Davis said he expects to make a full report at the meeting.

“This has been a difficult time and frustrating for everyone involved,” Mr. Davis said.