A citizen group that has been pushing for an off-Cape port to handle Steamship Authority freight traffic is asking the Massachusetts Attorney General to intervene by placing restrictions on the boat line.
Beginning Wednesday this week, the Steamship Authority will require all employees to show they have had at least one Covid-19 vaccination, the boat line announced Tuesday.
Steamship Authority governors put a period on the year 2021 at their monthly meeting Monday, hearing financial reports, electing new officers for 2022 and addressing transfer bridge safety following incidents involving a failed cable in recent weeks.
The ferry Nantucket was repaired and cleared for service by the Coast Guard late Sunday after a problem with a rudder indicator sidelined the ferry for most of the day, causing huge backups on the Vineyard route. SSA general manager Bob Davis said the problem was a rudder indicator.
With finances on an even keel again amid ongoing robust ferry traffic, Steamship Authority governors voted Tuesday to approve a $119.6 million operating budget for the coming year.
Two Steamship Authority freight boats were taken out of service Saturday, leading to a reshuffling of boats and crews through Sunday. Both the Katama and the Sankaty had problems, but the Sankaty was back in service by Monday.