<p>Frustrated travelers and disruptions in service were again the story for the problem-plagued Steamship Authority over the weekend and into Monday.</p>
Frustrated travelers and disruptions in service were again the story for the problem-plagued Steamship Authority over the weekend and into Monday, as the ferry Martha’s Vineyard continued to suffer mechanical issues.
The ferry has been experiencing a spate of problems ever since her return from a $17 million mid-life refurbishment at Senesco Marine in North Kingstown, R.I., in March. The work was designed to more than double the ferry’s lifespan while improving passenger comfort and navigational safety.
Instead the Martha’s Vineyard has rapidly vaulted to the top of a growing list of headaches for the boat line that is the Island’s lifeline.
“It’s out of control, it’s unacceptable and it’s not just one problem,” said Vineyard boat line governor Marc Hanover, speaking to the Gazette by phone Monday afternoon. An SSA meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday on Nantucket. Mr. Hanover said he was trying to call a meeting sooner and would again push for an independent outside review of boat line affairs.
On Saturday night the Martha’s Vineyard lost power a short time after pulling out of the slip in Woods Hole for the 5 p.m. trip to Vineyard Haven. The problem was tracked to a clogged fuel filter in the generator, SSA general manager Bob Davis said yesterday.
The ferry dropped anchor until she could be pulled back into port. But more problems ensued due to a shortage of available ferry slips in Woods Hole, where a major $60 million terminal refurbishment is under way.
The freight ferry Katama, which had gone out on Thursday with a failed generator, was tied up in one slip undergoing repairs. The disabled Martha’s Vineyard was in the second slip. The third slip is under construction.
After a series of maneuvers that involved pulling the Katama out of her slip using a tug and moving the Martha’s Vineyard into that slip, service resumed on the Vineyard run some three hours later. Ferries ran until nearly midnight as the boat line scrambled to get back on schedule.
By Sunday morning the Martha’s Vineyard had cleared sea trials and was back in service. The freight ferry Sankaty was brought over from Hyannis to help clear up the backlog and ferries ran late throughout the day.
On Monday the Martha’s Vineyard briefly lost power again on the 1:15 p.m. trip out of Vineyard Haven — this time a second generator kicked in and there was no loss in propulsion, the SSA said. But there were more delays in service for the remainder of the afternoon.
The number of mishaps on the ferries are unprecedented in the history of the quasi-public boat line whose state charter dates to 1960.
At a meeting on the Vineyard last month, SSA governors and senior managers apologized to Islanders for the problems but refused to back Mr. Hanover’s call for an independent outside review.
Mr. Hanover said Monday that he plans to renew that call, and will recommend that the SSA hire McKinsey and Company to do the review. “They they have a marine division, they have an IT division . . . bring them in,” he said, reiterating his view that the issues are not confined to mechanical issues on the ferries.
“We can’t have this,” Mr. Hanover said.
SSA general manager Bob Davis said senior managers are doing all they can to stem the flow of problems.
“We’re frustrated as much as our customers are,” Mr. Davis told the Gazette Monday. “This is a situation that none of us — the crews, the terminal people, the staff here are comfortable with. We’re trying to figure out what we need to do to make sure things are going as we planned them.”
Comments
On today's steamshipauthority
Jack A. West TisburyOn today's steamshipauthority.com website
Temporary dolphins are currently being installed on the north side of the Woods Hole Terminal’s Slip 1 so that the slip may continue to be used over the next few years while the wharf is excavated and a new Slip 3 is constructed. After the temporary dolphins for Slip 1 are installed, the fenders and dolphins in Slip 2 will be repaired. All of this work is expected to be completed by May 10, 2018.
They haven't yet finished Slip 1 so Slip 2 will not be completed by May 10. When will the 1st and 2nd slips be fixed? Woods Hole can't operate the summer schedule of 4 boats on May 11 so watch out, there will be absolute chaos starting May 11. Time to finish up Slip 1 and forget about Slip 2 until next year unless of course Slip 2 isn't safe....Great planning guys.
"IF" the problem was actually
deshandra brown Edg"IF" the problem was actually caused by a clog fuel filter, any mechanically inclined person knows that it has NOTHING to do with a prior refurbishment. If it was clogged with contaminants there are a few simple questions: Does the SSA routinely clean/and or replace the filters for contaminants? or do they wait till the fuel flow stops, thus shutting down engines putting passengers lives at risk? If you do not determine the type of contaminant and the source, then the problem WILL happen again. If its rust, then you better clean the fuel tanks. It its water, you better check for leaks. If it was contaminated fuel from a vendor, is that fuel present in any other vessels? How often are the filters replaced? And for 17 million, isn't there a system that puts the filter into a BYPASS mode, past the clogged filter? Or does it just become an expense piece of flotsam endangering human lives?
even our simple fishing boats
akcrabber chilmarkeven our simple fishing boats had a centrifuge that the fuel went through before going to the day tank....
"IF"/That sums up the
Warren Roberts Boston"IF"/That sums up the reluctance of those pointing to basic maintince issues, filter, as the problems on going.
A independent study of what's going on after the rehab of the ferry is needed.
Find the real problem/problems and stop this insanity!!!
as a former Navy Eng, Officer
Jim Brownlow N. Haven andTisburyas a former Navy Eng, Officer and long time private boat owner I couldn't have stated it better.
The very representative of
Islander MVYThe very representative of those most affected, SSA governor representing MVY, Marc Hanover, is being ignored by the remaining governors whose communities aren’t affected. SSA- clearly you don’t care so just stop talking. If you want to do the right thing, bring in an outside, experienced consulting company like McKinsey to tell you what you’re missing because you sure aren’t getting it right yourselves including that your absolutely tomw deaf of the public. You should all be embarrassed but you probably don’t care enough to be. Actions speak louder; you’re blowhards.
Was the filter clogged
Seeking AnswersWas the filter clogged because they allowed the day tank to run dry again? Rumor has it the "electrical" issue that stranded the boat last time was the new tank monitor, failing to show the tank was...empty.
Maybe some investigative reporting could uncover the truth.
There is good reason to be
Nelson Sigelman Vineyard HavenThere is good reason to be frustrated with the recent reliability of Steamship Authority service. A case may also be made for an outside consultant to look at current operations, and take a good hard look at a future service model that incorporates fast ferry passenger service from Woods Hole. However, personal attacks on the members of the SSA board are unwarranted. The authority members from Nantucket, Barnstable, Falmouth and New Bedford are intelligent, thoughtful people with a wide range of professional expertise and experience. All are appointed to the board. The Dukes County commission appoints the Vineyard member. The notion that the members do not care about Island riders or the spate of problems is not true. They did not agree with Marc Hanover's earlier call for a consultant because they thought management could handle the task, and they wanted more time to consider the issue. It was a reasonable decision. Disagree with that decision but there is no justification to call them "blowhards."
Nelson- it’s professional;
Islander MVYNelson- it’s professional; not personal. They’re appointed for a reason. Oversight. You’re welcome to your opinion that all is okay and acceptable. Lastly- this quote from the April 23rd Gazette story doesn’t seem to be asking for time or believing management could handle the task: “I would hate to have a lot of time and resources diverted to something that could be done and should be done in-house,” said Falmouth governor Elizabeth Gladfelter. If they could handle the task this wouldn’t keep happening
I agree with your sentiment.
John Aldeborgh EdgartownI agree with your sentiment. Unfortunately we seem to increasingly live in a society that feels compelled to blame someone rather than focus on fixing the problem at hand. I'm sure that dealing with the barrage of criticism has become a full time job for the SSA management, right when they need their full attention focused on getting their assets and infrastructure functioning smoothly and predictably. It increasingly appears that the SSA had plans for the Winter season that were too ambitious, while this attitude is commendable the outcomes have damaged the reputation of the SSA. At some point constructive changes will need to be made simply so that confidence can be restored. Too many lives depend on the SSA as their lifeline.
I’ve been going to the
GM BostonI’ve been going to the Vineyard for over 40 years and can not recall a period where the SSA has failed to deliver. Until now. Clearly there is a leadership and accountability problem that is not being addressed. I don’t think spending thousands on a consulting firm is going to address the obvious.
Governors! Listen to Mr.
VH Villager Vineyard HavenGovernors! Listen to Mr. Hanover. If you have nothing to hide, let McKinsey help figure out how to fix these epic fails. Yes, epic. With 100,000 visitors this summer to support our businesses, we need their experience to be fkawkess!
I do not know about other
Hmm Oak BluffsI do not know about other home owners on the Vineyard but between a parking permit, car fees, and passenger rates, I spend on average $200-$300 on the steamship each month. Fine, but with bad communication, spotty service, and now an impact on tourism, am I getting what I am paying for? Seems like a management issue.
Given the season is here, we are heading into a perfect storm scenario that could have some serious effect on the summer season and revenue. It does not matter how pretty your office or terminal is if your boats cannot do the job. Thus, management.
Everything was fine until the
Anne EdgartownEverything was fine until the refurbishment at Senesco? Why not look to them for answers or better yet ask the people who run these ferries everyday and they will tell you the truth. A heap of junk!
Do I hear seconds for a bridge?
Why blame senesco? U want to
Chris w RiWhy blame senesco? U want to spend pennies. You will get what u pay for. The people doing the refurb did what they could with money they were given. Any other company would of paid real money to fix her up.
Whomever is at fault, there
Sue EdgartownWhomever is at fault, there seems to be a lethargy and incompetence that goes to all involved. My daughter and I, after being pushed around and given wrong, wrong information from boat guides, ended up parking our car at 10:00 in Palmer after being told to walk on because if we waited to get our car on, we might be sleeping in the car! We had a dog with us also. We got to Palmer, they had just closed. BUT the men in the booth were so kind and helpful. Being befuddled themselves at what was going on, they gave us a parking space and actually had a bus take us back to WH so we didn’t have to stay in a hotel (which wouldn’t have been possible with a dog). When walking on the boat, not ONE member of steamship authority could have cared less...they just stood around, people were mouthing off, they just stared into space! Something is terribly wrong! Bring in an expert...change the dynamics between the customer and the organization. It’s unbelievable the SA can treat customers as they do!
I am not a maritime or a
Scott BostonI am not a maritime or a legal expert, but it seems that Senesco needs to fully respond to the problems on the MV Martha's Vineyard following $17 million of work. This matter may need to be referred to the attorney general.
Senescent is the problem and
Warren Roberts BostonSenescent is the problem and legal litigation is a timely affair. First off should be a plea for Senescent too look in to the problems but a independent study should be on-going and then if the problems are consistent with senescent refitting with a independent study, then a suit follows.
In the meantime fix the problem because making up possible problems that could-be isn't getting people back and forth from the island!!!
SSA, please please pull your
Befuddled ChilmarkSSA, please please pull your heads out of the sand and not ruin the summer for thousands. I fear complete chaos a-comin’...
I have been watching this
Mack EdgartownI have been watching this unfold from day one and there has only been a handful of issues. Trains become disabled and planes are often grounded due to mechanical issues. We need to relax and let the SSA work through the kinks. This will be a distant memory in weeks to come.
Mack,
Johnathan Chimark-N.YMack,
I agree! We have options... SSA does a great job.... I do use Cape Air when I can and I love the Patriot boat
Mr. Hanover asked his fellow
Todd RebelloMr. Hanover asked his fellow members for a independent review for a range of issues. And was denied
Mr. Hanover asked for an emergency meeting. And was denied
Mr. Hanover will be asking for the monthly meeting to be relocated from Nantucket next week to Martha’s Vineyard let’s hope again he is not denied.
We need to support our Representative
At this time. The Falmouth member needs to be brought up to speed on what happened 15 or so years ago when we stood with them during a legislative battle and the SSA enabling act was opened in Boston. The SSA ports were divided and New Bedford was brought in because Falmouth sought traffic relief. We have provided cover for Falmouth as recently as last year in a vote prohibiting truck traffic on early boats which came at a big expense to island business and difficulty in delivery schedules island wide. The Falmouth member must have amnesia. Mr. Hanover’s requests are reasonable
And with his long history on the board should have been granted. The Nantucket member should be respectful of this issue on MV and move next weeks meeting here.
Add new comment