The Vineyard Gazette
It happened yesterday. One minute before 11 a.m., the Island boat line was administered by the officers and directors of the Massachusetts Steamship Lines Inc., as constituted for some time past; one minute after 11, the management was in the hands of new officers and directors, the responsibility of the New Bedford, Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamboat Authority.
Steamships and Ferries
Steamship Authority
Vineyard Gazette
Only the signature of Governor Furcolo now remains to turn into law the bill setting up a new Steamship Authority with three members, locally appointed, to represent the Vineyard Nantucket, and F
Steamships and Ferries
Steamship Authority

2024

The Steamship Authority is facing a $5 million gap between its projected revenues and expenses next year due to an unprecedented $15 million rise in costs, paired with a decline in revenues.

The last two Steamship Authority captains from Martha’s Vineyard have officially retired, leaving only off Island-based officers to run the Woods Hole route.

After more than two years of development, the Steamship Authority’s long-delayed new website has been put on hold until a new reservations system is in place.

Steamship Authority general manager Bob Davis announced Tuesday he will step down in October 2025 to take an advisory role at the boat line. Mr. Davis gave a tearful goodbye to the public and staff at the monthly meeting of the board of governors, held on Nantucket.

The M/V Barnstable, a repurposed offshore oil vessel, could join the boat line’s fleet later this fall after more than a year’s work at the Alabama Shipyard in Mobile. 

The Steamship Authority’s second largest vehicle ferry will be sidelined until at least Friday due to damage on the vessel's portside propeller blades.

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