SSA Tightens Its Policies on Face Coverings

Noah Asimow Wednesday, July 15 2020 - 3:52pm

After experiencing issues of non-compliance, the Steamship Authority said it was tightening up its own ship with regard to mask-wearing on Wednesday.

After experiencing issues of non-compliance, the Steamship Authority said it was tightening up its own ship with regard to mask-wearing on Wednesday, releasing enforcement guidance for employees that include leaving mask-less passengers behind and contacting law enforcement.

The SSA instituted a mandatory mask policy in late April, just days before Gov. Charlie Baker’s statewide rule requiring masks in public, including public transit. The order requires passengers to wear masks while boarding SSA buses and vessels and on interior decks. Socially-distant passengers are not required to wear masks outdoors.

But in a press release Wednesday, the boat line officials said it had experienced difficulty enforcing the rule and issued specific guidelines for employees.

“I know that all of you have experienced difficulty at times with customers who decline to comply,” said a memorandum to that went out to employees from director of shoreside operations, Alison Fletcher and was attached to the press release.

“Please know you have the full support of myself and general manager Bob Davis in this regard.”

The guidelines include offering a disposable mask to customers traveling without a cloth face covering for bus trips, repeated announcements during travel, reiterating that customers cannot board vessels or buses without masks, leaving any belligerent customers behind, and, if the situation merits, involving local law enforcement or the state trooper stationed on the boat.

Buses cannot leave the station if a passenger gets on without a mask, the memorandum notes, and boats are now instructed to continue loading and to leave passengers in port if they do not wear a mask.

SSA spokesman Sean Driscoll said the enforcement guidelines came about after multiple instances of non-compliance on boats and buses, many not unique to the boat line.

“We did have an incident on a bus recently. That really has been the biggest problem,” Mr. Driscoll said. “We have continuous issues on the vessels with customers acting like they are in ninth grade, and taking off their mask when the teacher walks away, and then putting it back on when the teacher comes back around.”

There are no official policy changes with the enforcement guidelines, Mr. Driscoll said.

“There’s not really a difference in the policy as far as what’s required, it’s more additional guidance to our staff on how to proceed if they encounter a passenger who has a different point of view,” Mr. Driscoll said. “We just wanted to make clear for employees that we would back them up.”

Comments

I would also remind people

Beth Edgartown

I would also remind people that wearing a mask and not covering your nose is like not wearing a mask. I saw many instances of this practice people need constant reminders that you must cover both mouth and nose.
Thank you

Boat crew must set the

Bruce Nevin Edgartown

Boat crew must set the example and wear masks consistently. Many do not. This makes policies and rules unconvincing. Steamship Authority personnel have a duty to protect passengers. No one knows if they might have got infected since the last time they were tested.

I completely agree!! It's

bridget aquinnah

I completely agree!! It's infuriating. I took the boat back to WH on July 16 and an employee sitting in the ship's office was blatantly not wearing a mask (pulled down). No amount of my glaring could change his defiance. How can you enforce passengers when employees flout the rule. Incredible.

We came over on the 12th in

Linda Calabrese Tolland CT and ZOak Bluffs MA

We came over on the 12th in our Small RV. The SSA crew on the parking deck were not wearing their masks properly. Five men, one wearing his properly at all times, two wearing theirs with their mouths and noses exposed, one with his nose exposed, and one with no mask at all. And they stood around, chatting and laughing with one another maybe a foot or two apart. So, the SSA should start with its own staff if it wants to set a good example, let alone enforce compliance.

It would be nice if the SSA

Mong Mong VH

It would be nice if the SSA could be a leader of the pack in wear masks on, off, in the boat, around the boat. A good practice that once seen and enforced, should encourage people to comply.

As a 34 yr wash-a-shore and having traveled extensively including many large cities in Asia, I am convinced more and more that just living in a world of climate change where there is complete disregard for animal species, the earth and human beings. The majority of Asians should be applauded because all around the majority don masks when outside their homes to mitigate the inhalation of pollutants in the air, to reduce the spread of the flue and now to control a presently unstoppable viruse. Just because the USA claimed to be no. 1 ... in reality we are clambering just like everyone else.

Now imagine how our lives have changed recently, and how we will encounter many challenges ahead. Some of us will get sick, some very sick and some will die, and as implied some won't. it might be ok to think this is a culling of the herd, but large percentages of deaths ARE unnecessary if we have consideration of others.

Wear a mask, don't wear a mask .... Who wins ?? Who looses?? or does it matter? I know where I stand.

I’ve noticed that many

Christina

I’ve noticed that many passengers on the buses to and from Palmer Ave and Thomas Landers are not wearing masks and unable to be socially distanced. Since these buses are at or close to full capacity and none of the seats are blocked off I think From the moment you are walking on the bus until you leave the bus masks should absolutely be mandatory. These are extremely close quarters and could spread so easily without everyone wearing masks. If someone isn’t wearing a mask I think they should get off the bus or have to pay a fine before driving off of the lot. It’s unfair to jeopardize lives of passengers this way. Please strongly consider this. It should go into affect immediately

Surprise! FINALLY law

Islander Martha’s Vineyard

Surprise! FINALLY law enforcement gets on board — what is it? July 16, 2020? We’ve been fortunate to be out ahead of this, but with so many people who just are ne’er-do-wells, we need Law enforcement just as we do in other areas when there are fires, robberies, speeding, and so on. I think this can most accountant be related to speeding and wearing a seatbelt, wearing a seatbelt being something that many more outraged to have to do at the time and today all of the sudden their “freedom” is not in question.

I feel like if they're caught

Dean Farina Oak Bluffs

I feel like if they're caught being sneaky once the boat takes off of them produce ID cancel their return bought for future purchases. Treat it exactly how Homeland Security would treat a person on a flight

I would suggest a penalty of

Julir de Wolff Kennett Square Pa

I would suggest a penalty of $5 each time they are caught wearing a mask incorrectly or not at all

I was last on ferry 7/2 and 1

R Scott Patterson Edgartown

I was last on ferry 7/2 and 1/3 of the employees weren't wearing masks properly, passengers see that and follow suit. Have spoken to multiple people who have been on the island queen. All employees wear their masks and so do the passengers. As usual the problems with the SSA start at the top.

Have masks as a free handout

harland gibbs edgartown

Have masks as a free handout for travelers. This will hasten on and off boarding,

We just did a round trip last

We just did a round trip last week. Multiple SSA employees were not properly wearing masks. I had to ask one at the car check-in to put his on before I would roll down my window (I was masked). I wholeheartedly agree with mask enforcement, but it must be for both employees and customers.