As a long-time Vineyarder and as someone with a career in marine operations, naval architecture and design, I have followed the SSA and its evolution through different boards, managers and staff. I’d like to share my knowledge in hopes that it might serve to help people understand the various issues at work. The problem with ferries, big or small, is that it doesn’t look like it’s that tricky to get it right: fill the boat, leave on time, get to the other side. But the complexities are numerous.

When one has a bad experience with a canceled or delayed ferry it is frustrating, but in that moment it is not possible to see and understand the enormous effort and massive ongoing support it takes to run the SSA. Like the black scuff mark on a white house, the only thing the traveling public sees is the visible thing that irritates them.

Somehow, running a $130 million, 10/11-ship operation delivering three million passengers and vehicles on multiple routes and five ports is something that every rider seems to believe they know how to do better. But the fact that every ferry operation world-wide, constantly struggles is out of sight to the ticket holder — whether it’s the SSA, the Menemsha bike ferry, Washington State Ferries or Stena (European).

Every aspect of running a boat line requires the interfacing with dozens of other multi-million-dollar entities with thousands of total employees and their management people. This includes the state, the federal government, the United States Coast Guard, the many contractors and suppliers. There are unions to negotiate with, varying costs versus fare pressures with no income but the fare box, incredibly complex federal and USCG rules on building and operating vessels that carry passengers-for-hire, rising fuel costs that impact budgetary line items and, when just one crew member doesn’t show up for work, it means that several trips may have to be canceled.

I think some ongoing education seminars would be beneficial for both the SSA management and the public, delivered in extra public meetings. The existing public meeting format is, by necessity, not conducive to bridging misunderstandings. The stress grows, the divide widens. But better education and communication could help alleviate many of these issues.

Like many things, ferries are complicated but as we live on an island, they are necessary and serve our needs. Could the SSA be better? Yes. Does it do its job for us? Yes again.

Doren Voeth

Long Beach, Calif.

The writer is the managing director at Deep Cove LLC.