Nantucket Steamship Authority News

With travel and tourism nearing pre-2020 levels, and transit systems benefiting from a return to work, passenger vessels have seen renewed activity. In its year-end review, John Groundwater, Executive Director of the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA), which advocates for the sector in Washington, D.C. wrote: “As we are nearing the end of the calendar year, we are delighted to report that our industry, and our members, are reporting far and wide that they have experienced very…

The Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority said it is planning to buy a pair of secondhand offshore supply vessels (OSV) to convert into replacements for two of its aging freight vessels.The sister OSVs, HOS Shooting Star and HOS Lode Star, will be purchased from Covington, La.-based Hornbeck Offshore Services. The 240-foot-long vessels, which were built in 2008 and 2009 respectively and formerly serviced the oil and gas industry off the Gulf Coast, will…

Colleen Stephens, President of Stan Stephens Glacier & Wildlife Cruises will be President of the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) for 2020, the trade association announced.Elected during the PVA Annual Convention at MariTrends 2020 held February 3-6, 2020 in Tampa, Fla., Stephens reaffirmed PVA's commitment to continuously improving safety in passenger vessel operations as well as the association's engagement in being good stewards of the environment. "PVA's Green WATERS program…

Domestic ferries adjust their business models to met regulatory pressures and exceed environmental standards with an eye towards improved service. And, not a minute too soon. In North America, stalwarts in the ferry business continue to shorten journey times compared to surface alternatives, while at the same time, bring accessibility to barrier and coastal islands that would otherwise be impossible to reach. Established stakeholders continually fine-tune their operations in a…

A new freight and passenger ferry designed by Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) for Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket Steamship Authority (SSA) will be built at Conrad Shipyard in Morgan City, Louisiana. The new ferry, Woods Hole, will replace the M/V Govenor, the oldest vessel in the SSA's fleet. The new single-ended vessel will measure approximately 235 feet, have a total person capacity of 384 and a car deck that accommodates 55 standard vehicles or 10 tractor-trailer vehicles. The ferry will include a bow thruster and have a service speed of 14.5 knots.

Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG), a leading naval architecture and marine engineering firm with offices in Seattle, New Orleans and Ketchikan, Alaska, today announced that the new freight and passenger ferry it designed for the Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket Steamship Authority (SSA) will be built at Conrad Shipyard in Morgan City, Louisiana. “Conrad Shipyard is proud to have been selected along with EBDG to deliver this vessel," said Terry Frickey, C.O.O. of Conrad Shipyard. "Both companies are steeped in a rich tradition of quality and integrity. The new ferry, WOODS HOLE, will replace the M/V GOVERNOR, the oldest vessel in the SSA's fleet.

Elliott Bay Design Group, a Seattle-based Naval Architect and Marine Engineering firm with offices in New Orleans and Ketchikan, has hired seasoned marine professional Jim Towers. Towers, originally hired at the firm in 2000, brings more than 30 years' experience to his role as Senior Naval Architect and Marine Engineer. Tower's extensive skill set includes production engineering and management, shipyard estimating and budget control, CAD design, repair yard engineering and management as well as expertise in the design and construction of offshore and passenger vessels…

Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG), a naval architecture and marine engineering firm with offices in Seattle, New Orleans and Ketchikan, has been awarded a multiple-phase project to design a new freight and passenger ferry for the Massachusetts-based Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket Steamship Authority (SSA). “We were looking to replace our oldest vessel, the M/V Governor, with a more versatile vessel by the spring of 2016," stated Wayne C. Lamson, General Manager for the SSA.

James P. Swindler has been selected as the Deputy General Manger, Ferry Division Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District and will assume his October 28, 2003. Swindler replaces Captain David Clark who passed away early this year. Since 1999, Swindler has served as the Director of Operations at the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority (Steamship Authority), MA, which operates ferry service between Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Islands and Woods Hole serving more than 3 million passengers, 500,000 automobiles, and 110,00 trucks annually. Swindler began his career with Steamship Authority in 1990 as a Special Projects Manager. For six of his thirteen years at the Authority, he also served as Engineering/Maintenance Manager.

Senesco Marine recently spent a little over a month making the ferry Nantucket seaworthy for Martha’s Vineyard Nantucket Steamship Authority in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Marine. Other work performed on the Nantucket involved overhauling the sea valves, installation of new grid coolers and sea chests, modification of the crew quarters and extensive bottom shell plating renewals. Finally, workers at Senesco Marine modified the deck beam to allow for proper tractor-trailer loading between Woods Hole, Mass., and Nantucket. the Nantucket Steamship Authority. We were really happy with the work performed and hope this is the start of a long relationship," said Gary Schuler, CEO of Senesco Marine. The 230 x 60-ft.

Every year, MarineNews chooses a handful of vessels delivered in the past 12 months and bestows upon them the distinction of “Great Boats.” The boats are chosen for innovations in design, construction and utilization. Following are the 17 vessels or groups of vessels chosen as the Great Boats of 2000. Crowley Marine Services delivered Alert, Attentive, and Aware, a series of three 140-ft., 10,000-hp Prevention and Response Tugs (PRTs), to Alyeska Pipeline Service Company in Valdez, Alaska. Specifically designed and developed for Alyeska, the boats will be used by Crowley in the Trans Alaska Pipeline System trade. Alert was deployed in February; Attentive was delivered in June, and Aware was delivered in July.

the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket Steamship Authority (SSA). foundation - the backbone and strength of a ship. The keel laying ceremony officially commences the construction of ‘Island Home’ a 254-ft. ferry that will carry up to 1200 passengers and 76 vehicles (cars and semi-trailers). Martha’s Vineyard route. allowing for more flexibility in the loading configuration. engines, it has a top speed of about 16 knots. head efficiently into a slip without ever having to turn around. The sponsor of ‘Island Home’, the late Kathryn A. fiancé Mr. contributions to the project. will be incorporated into the ship during construction. in-depth, detailed design process. vessel it will be replacing. of military and commercial ships to different segments of the newbuilding market.

Industrial Power Systems, Inc. (IPS) of Jacksonville, Florida, recently completed new construction projects for two major shipyards, VT Halter Marine, and Gladding-Hearn. IPS supplied the electrical power control systems for the M/V Island Home and the M/V Iyanough, both recently commissioned into service by the notable Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority (the Steamship Authority). Founded as a public service ferry company, the SSA has been serving a discerning client base between mainland Massachusetts and the islands since 1818.

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, has delivered Iyanough, a new 393 passenger, high-speed ferry, to the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority in Massachusetts. The all-aluminum catamaran, designed by Incat-Crowther in Sidney, Australia, is 154 feet (47m) long and 39-feet (12m) abeam. It draws only 5.3-feet (1.6m). The vessel, which will operate a 26-mile route from Hyannis, Mass., to Nantucket, features Incat’s “S-Bow” hull shape to provide additional reserve buoyancy during very large seas. “The S-Bow hull shape has lower resistance and better sea-keeping than a conventional catamaran hull,” Peter Duclos, Gladding-Hearn’s president, explained.

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, has started construction of a fourth water taxi for New York City-based New York Water Taxi. Delivery is set for next April when the commuter ferry will begin passenger service between Yonkers, N.Y., and downtown Manhattan. Like the three sisters before her, the bright yellow, all-aluminum catamaran, designed by Incat Crowther, will measure 72 feet (22 m) long and 27.3 feet (8.3 m) abeam, and draw 5 feet (1.5 m). It will be USCG-certified to carry 149 passengers but limited to only 99 passengers when operating at New York City water taxi docks. The vessel will be powered by two Cummins QSK 19-M diesel engines, each rated at 800 Bhp at 2100 rpm.

VT Halter Marine, Inc. launched the Island Home, a 255 ft. double-ended ferry built for The Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket Steamship Authority (SSA), on July 21. The Island Home will replace the Islander, a 56-year old ferry currently serving the Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven route. The Island Home was designed by Elliott Bay Design Group of Seattle and is capable of carrying up to 1,200 passengers and crew in comfort and safety. The ferry will also carry 76 vehicles (cars and semi-trailers) and includes hydraulic lift decks for 16 cars. Displacing nearly 1,950 tons when fully loaded and powered by two direct drive EMD diesel engines delivering 6000 hp, it has a top speed of 16 knots.

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, has begun construction of a 350 passenger, high-speed ferry for the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority in Massachusetts. The all-aluminum catamaran, designed by Incat-Crowther in Sidney, Australia, is 155 ft. long and 40-ft. abeam. It draws only 5.3-ft. The vessel features Incat Designs’ S-Bow hull shape to provide additional reserve buoyancy during very large seas. “The S-Bow hull shape has lower resistance and better seakeeping than a conventional catamaran hull,” Peter Duclos, Gladding-Hearn’s president, explained. The Steamship Authority’s second fast ferry will be powered by four MTU 12V-4000M70 diesel engines…

Following the mandates to enhance maritime security throughout the United States, programs were developed to make federal funds available to partially offset the costs being imposed on the private sector. The programs, which started off with great fanfare, are in danger of collapsing due to lack of continued funding by Congress and attempts by the Administration to siphon off monies for other missions. The first monies appropriated by Congress for port security grants were in the Department of Defense and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Recovery from and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States Act, 2002 (Pub.L. 107-117, January 10, 2002).

Derecktor Shipyards is putting the finishing touches on a 134.5 ft. high-speed catamaran for the Woods Hole Steamship Authority at the yard's facility in Mamaroneck, N.Y. Delivery is slated for May of 2000. The other bidders for the contract included Dakota Creek Shipyards, Halter Marine and Pequot River Works. The Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket Steamship Authority, the oldest of its kind in the U.S., provides the only year-round passenger and vehicle ferry service to the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Service is provided from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven, and Hyannis to Nantucket. Seasonal service is also provided from Woods Hole to Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard.