The Steamship Authority Tuesday said it is dropping the Sankaty's three daily weekday round trips on the Vineyard route amid a shortage of qualified crew members.
Amid a shortage of qualified crew members, the Steamship Authority is trimming its summer ferry schedule just weeks after it began.
“We find ourselves in a precarious situation with some recent departures of personnel or unavailability of them, [and] we think it’s best if we do some modifications of the schedule,” general manager Robert Davis said Tuesday at the monthly meeting of the Steamship Authority’s governing board.
Freight operators will be most affected by the changes.
From June 17 through Sept. 5, the authority will no longer run the M/V Sankaty’s three daily weekday round trips on the Vineyard route. The Sankaty can carry about 39 vehicles.
The Governor ferry, pictured here, is being replaced for the summer by the Woods Hole.
The Governor ferry, pictured here, is being replaced for the summer by the Woods Hole.
The M/V Woods Hole will run in place of the M/V Governor on the Vineyard route. On the Nantucket schedule, the Sankaty will replace the Woods Hole and the high-speed M/V Iyanough will continue to run four round trips a day, instead of adding a fifth round trip as originally scheduled.
Director of shoreside operations Alison Fletcher told the board the authority’s reservations department has begun contacting customers with reservations on the canceled trips, in order to rebook them.
Meanwhile, Sankaty and Woods Hole trips are closed for bookings until further notice.
The Steamship Authority warned that crew shortages, a nationwide phenomenon, could affect the schedules earlier this month, and several trips on the Vineyard route have been canceled in recent months.
Staff shortages were not the only disappointments the Steamship Authority board encountered Tuesday morning.
The new M/V Barnstable and the M/V Aquinnah ferries won’t be joining the Steamship Authority fleet until after the summer season, Mr. Davis said. Previous estimates placed the Barnstable in the region’s waters by the middle of June.
“They’ll be here before Labor Day. I don’t think that we’ll be able to put them into service before Labor Day,” Mr. Davis said.
The two identical former oil industry support vessels have spent the winter and spring in Alabama undergoing conversion work to become Steamship Authority freight ferries, with the Barnstable previously scheduled to go into service this summer and the Aquinnah expected to follow several weeks later.
Weather delays, additional work required by the U.S. Coast Guard and other change orders have added weeks to the original schedule, said Mr. Davis, asking the board to extend the contractual delivery date from Alabama Shipyard to from April 7 to July 15 for the Barnstable.
The late arrival, coupled with the Steamship Authority’s staffing crunch, likely means the authority will have to hire a delivery crew to bring the Barnstable north, Mr. Davis said.
The Aquinnah, originally due for delivery April 28, is similarly delayed, he said, and will come to the board for a contract extension at next month’s meeting.
Mark Amundsen, whose title was changed recently from director of marine operations to director of engineering and maintenance, said the ferry conversions have been plagued by shortages of parts and supplies.
“This job was very challenging in every element because of the supply chain. The supply chain is still way off in this country,” Mr. Amundsen told the board.
Chief operating officer Mark Higgins said the new ferries will be worth the wait.
“These vessels are here for us for the next quarter-century,” he said.
The board also agreed with a recommendation from the port council earlier this month to launch the new Steamship Authority website in September, instead of over the summer.
Among other business Tuesday, the board discussed the policy for advertising aboard Steamship Authority vessels and at terminals, at the request of Martha’s Vineyard board member James Malkin following the appearance of a controversial advertising campaign.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is running poster ads on Vineyard ferries with the message reading “Did Your Lobster Kill a Whale?”
The activist nonprofit also issued a press release calling attention to its Vineyard campaign.
Mr. Malkin said his constituents have complained about the message, and he called for an immediate moratorium on new advertising contracts until the board reviews the authority’s policy on ads.
Advertising revenue averages about $100,000 a year, Mr. Davis told the board.
Falmouth board member Peter Jeffrey, an attorney, cautioned that the boat line can’t lawfully pick and choose its advertisers.
Mr. Malkin said he would rather forgo all advertising revenue than have riders exposed to ads like the PETA poster.
Board members agreed to discuss the policy at next month’s meeting.
The Steamship Authority’s contract with PETA runs until October, Steamship spokesperson Sean Driscoll said Tuesday.
Comments
this is totally unacceptable.
Michael edgartownthis is totally unacceptable.....I am getting more and more alerts of "trip consolidation" messages......that means the ferries are not full...this is bad news for your summer dollars.......and are they blaming lack of help, or is it really lack of passengers....
What a disgrace! Who is
Greg EdgartownWhat a disgrace! Who is running this circus?? What a joke across the board…. Yet, we can build this building in Woods hole that is not needed, but we cannot staff out boats???
Anyone remember a time when
Captain Dave EdgartownAnyone remember a time when GM Bob Davis was either on time or under budget, let alone both?
But he always seems to get
Ryan DC/OBBut he always seems to get amazing reviews and raises
I am sure they will all get A
Kate OBI am sure they will all get A! What a disappointment and a disgrace! No leadership.
Is there any detail on what
Brian MassachusettsIs there any detail on what the titles of the qualified crew roles are? On the SSA's Employment page, there are lots of seasonal dock worker roles, other shore-based positions, and maintenance management roles, but it does not seem like onboard crew is listed.
Would also be good to understand what on-the-job training or apprenticeship programs the SSA could run to get non-qualified staff to fill the roles. The state is prioritizing apprenticeship as a career pathway.
The only detail we get is Mr.
Emily Oak BluffsThe only detail we get is Mr. Davis keeps getting pay raises and A ratings.
The Steamship Authority
Neil MVY/BOSThe Steamship Authority should be spending money to ensure that it can run the necessary number of boats to meet summer demand (or buying bigger boats that can hold more cars with the same crew), not spending money to build unnecessary, elaborate terminal buildings.
Oddly enough bigger boats
Albert GosnoldOddly enough bigger boats require more crew and and higher crew qualifications.
Bigger boats consume more fuel and maintenance.
The economy of scale has limits.
The costs of unused capacity.
Airlines operate at 90%+ load factors.
The Woods Hole Ferry terminal; is a garbage pit.
A blight on the quaint little research community of Woods Hole.
There is no net benefit to the village that hosts the Island's transportation needs.
There are a lot of reasons
don keller Vineyard HavenThere are a lot of reasons for this;
Overly complex rules by the coast guard
Silly rule about testing for marijuana -- somebody takes a hit of a legal drug at a party on
Saturday night, and they get randomly tested on Thursday--"you're fired".
lousy company to work for
lousy pay
Wind industry is a better place to work.
Pick a few others.....
But ultimately, the level of freight and auto traffic is unsustainable.
Say what you will, but oversized cars take up a lot of room
Oversized houses take a lot of propane to keep them and their pools heated all winter
How many trucks full of lumber, stone, roofing materials, appliances, furniture etc go into
a 20,000 sq ft house ?
it all has to come on the boat.
All our trash has to leave on the boat.
We don't even make a real effort to reduce that volume.
We have met the enemy and he is us"--- Walt Kelly through the comic strip character Pogo.
https://library.osu.edu/site/40stories/2020/01/05/we-have-met-the-enemy/
I am sure you have all heard
Patrick OBI am sure you have all heard the saying "We aren't happy until you aren't happy". This is the mantra of the SSA. They just don't care, plain and simple. I can give several examples where if they just tried common sense, and thought of their passengers, things wouldn't have gone wrong. Example: There are 3 slips now in WH. Two of them accommodate the loading ramp for passengers, one can offload passengers from the port side of the ship and one from the starboard side of the ship. Then why, when you board in Oak Bluffs as a passenger, do you have to schlep your luggage over the top deck to the other side in order to off load the ship? If you cared about your passengers, just dock the boat in the other slip in WH. I can see no reason not to do this. You can't use the "freight boats are in the slip" as an answer, because they don't use the passenger ramps, they can use any of the 3 slips in WH.
Are you really complaining
Mike Couto Fall River, MAAre you really complaining about debarking on the opposite side you entered on? Now I have heard it all! Not only do they have multiple stairways to exit but the big boats have elevators to accommodate entitled, lazy human beings like yourself.
I think that this comment is
Patrick EdgartownI think that this comment is uncalled for. The commenter is just pointing out one way that the SSA could make things easier for passengers, with little effort. Do you really need to attack him.
Industry wide crew shortages
Bill West TisburyIndustry wide crew shortages is simply an excuse by the SSA. The real problem is the company does not want to offer competitive wages and a better quality of life for their employees. The employees have refused to do any overtime until a fair contract is reached. In the past overtime was used to alleviate crew shortages and therefore the boats ran all trips and a full schedule. SSA has rejected all the employees have asked for in their contract. Therefore the boats don’t run as usual.
Higher wages and better quality of life is a way to attract new and experienced mariners. If you pay them they will come.
I recently spoke with a long
julie OBI recently spoke with a long time employee in woods hole who stated that the SSA would not agree to pay increase requests in recent negotiations and therefore many crew members "jumped ship" and went to work for the wind farm project. This definitely places additional stress on travel plans for all of us.
It’s time to get organized.
Class Action EdgIt’s time to get organized. Enough of this. A class action lawsuit from full-time and even seasonal residents (come on and join the fun) is becoming evidently necessary to right this ship. Any other path towards resolution with the SSA let alone constructive improvements by consultants and feedback from residents have been willfully ignored by SSA. It’s time to up the ante.
Agreed!
Michael B Vineyard HavenAgreed!
It’s a shame, the company has
Ringo ObIt’s a shame, the company has a chance to be great with all there assets and rights to the water, but it is all wasted due to management not knowing what to do
Interesting development on
JT MVInteresting development on the possibility of reservations being low this year. I've heard others mention similar, but I will add: I've been coming to MV since my early 20's with wife. We now have kids in their early 20's and this will be the first year we won't be coming in-season.
The truthful answer as to why is this: The last 2-3 years have gotten progressively ickier with the pricing. Of everything. There are price increases due to inflation, and then there is gouging.
I will always wish nothing but the best for all of Martha's Vineyard, but I truly believe that this year is going to be a real eye-opener for a lot of businesses. I'll see you on the flip side, and during the off-season. Good luck, sincerely!
Reading through this is
JT VHReading through this is entertaining and sad. I have a 2000sq ft house but pay 20000 sq ft prices for work, necessary maintenance, and improvements. Like many other island homeowners.
Competition is the mainstay of economic improvement and better prices but the SSA has a Commonwealth approved monopoly and puts the screws to other operators trying to supply the demand.
I grant that there are limited port facilities on MV but where the dubiously beneficial Wind Farm monstrosities are located would also have served as additional freight slips and passenger-only vessel support.
The Coast Guard regs have an impact along with contract negotiations and aging vessels. At wood, though, if the service was opened to competition we would all benefit.
Unfortunately, this is
Mark VHUnfortunately, this is another example of the SSA leadership’s continued acceptance of failure. What makes things worse is the Board’s unwillingness or inability to mandate change.
Why are the private passenger
reality check mvyWhy are the private passenger ferry operators not making the same excuses. They dont have crew shortages and also must comply with Coast Guard regulations. The SSA should not be running boats. They should be like an airport, and operate the slips and collect landing fees just as airports do. Any boatline operator would be required to provide services all year, just like airlines that operated under the 'essential air service' to small communities rules. With the prices the SSA charges, one would expect their employees to be well compensated above industry standards. OR... where is the money going other than a TAJ Mahal terminal project.
The reality is that this will
Bill Simpson OBThe reality is that this will not be solved as long as the two papers on island keep doing gentle reporting on this constant issue. I have read NYC papers for decades and I have seen how a few hard hitting and embarrassing stories in the NYTimes and the NY Post would get people fired, reassigned and problems solved.
So frankly, I think that the way to right this ship is to write relentlessly hard hitting investigative pieces on the matter. These papers need to stop being afraid to piss off their sources at the top and start digging around and get sources from in the mid and lower levels of the organization and expose the rot and name those at fault. Put their faces on the cover and shame our way out of this mess.
Why and I mean why am I still
Eric Vineyard HavenWhy and I mean why am I still hearing advertising by the Steamship Authority when the "company" cannot keep schedules which they themselfs have issued. This is not a joke the Steamship has it's special licsences due to the Massachusetts Legislature recognizing that Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket must have a reliable supply route year round. Here on the island we must have a new repersenitive for our needs, we need a repersentive on the board of the Steamship Authority that would hold the Management to task at each meeting and stop this nonsence of rewarding poor performance, is this adult T-Ball?, no this is our life line being sunk.
oh, , and very quietly, the
Michael edgartownoh, , and very quietly, the brand new website is delayed until September? now, like I said, at least the current one works. a new one only moves stuff around, and adds bright colors to it..... meanwhile, how much are we paying for this now? kinda like the new building in woods hole? it just keeps going up and up
Years ago, many many people
Chris MainlandYears ago, many many people from the Vineyard worked on the boats. Now, they can be counted on one hand. Those few remaining will retire soon.
The people of the Island should insist on Vineyarders taking these jobs.
It benefits the Island and the company.
The SSA keeps spending money
Jonathon ChilmarkThe SSA keeps spending money on buildings and websites when they should be spending money on boats and crew. Therein lies the problem.
Time to sack steamship
JF EdgartownTime to sack steamship management and start fresh. Was on a boat last week where I watched a deck hand not know how to tie down the line to a cleat. Why are we not utilizing Mass Maritime as a resource? Lots of cadets looking for some real world experience.
It is very obvious that the
Jim MVIt is very obvious that the Steamship board and Steamship Management are in capable of delivering on the mission. It’s time to look at the poor performance and make appropriate changes. Staffing is a basic need. The problem started a year ago and it is worse not better. 1) Replace boat ops with someone who can do their job 2) cut the budget to stop the foolish boat conversions that are not needed nor have not been done before. How about our new ships with overhead car space that is almost always never used. The price tag for that waste could hire 10 people for 10 years. Again an Engineering Leadership issue. Replace him with who understands who to make smart choices.
On the bright side few of the people displaced with get a boat for their rental and others will cancel their vineyard due to unreliable boats. So, maybe the Vineyard visitors will slump. That is the silver lining. Incompetence leads to happiness.
An organized, full-blown,
Beach Committee OBAn organized, full-blown rally and protest to disrupt operations. Invite local and regional media (and social media) with a warning to the top executives that they are on notice to be named and under severe national scrutiny. Then we sue.
As a daily commuter on the
Josh FalmouthAs a daily commuter on the ferries for over 15 years I have talked to several long time employees on the ferries at length. The SSA has rejected everything that the employees have asked for in their contract including the wage increase, scheduling and an overall better quality of life for them and their families. Instead of trying to make the schedule better for the employees management wants to go the opposite way and make it worse for them with a more difficult schedule. They have also turned down their request for a fair raise in wages comparative to other ferry companies recent pay increases with respect to the significant increase in cost of living and the fact that these other ferries companies have a substantially lower cost of living than living on Cape Cod. Most of the employees have to travel from out of town because they can not afford to live on Cape Cod. The influx of non experienced and new mariners on the boats has made the job for Captains/Mates a living hell. All of this combined from what I have heard most employees have refused any overtime and have made the decision to not do the overtime to bail out their employer/company (SSA) that could care less about their employees. Sadly this is a “lifeline” for myself, thousands of other daily commuters, tourists and all islanders and I am hoping that management will wake up and do the right thing by their employees so we can all get back to doing what we do. SOSA!
Long time former Steamship
Jerry North FalmouthLong time former Steamship employee here. The Steamship has overplayed their “take it or leave it “ hand a little too long. Now they’ve been caught flat-footed. The work schedule should have been changed decades ago.
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