The 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…

The operator of a ferry service to and from Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and Woods Hole, Mass. said it was hit by a ransomware attack on Wednesday that continues to impact passenger bookings.The attack has prevented passengers from booking or changing reservations online or over the phone, local officials said, adding that credit card payment systems used to process ticket purchases and parking fees have also been affected."Scheduled trips to and from the islands continue to operate safely as scheduled, although some delays in the ticketing process may occur. Customers remain unable to book or change reservations online or by phone," the operator Steamship Authority said on Thursday.

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…

As domestic traffic from coast-to-coast continues to worsen, ferry operators are seeing a steady growth in passenger demand. As passenger demand grows, so does the demand for efficiency and hybrid technology to be incorporated into fleets. But what innovations support a fleet’s number one priority – safety? Will efficiency and the latest green technologies support these critically important vessels in an emergency situation? Is the crew aware of how much time they have to evacuate all passengers?Traditional ferry evacuation systems require passengers to be loaded onto lifeboats on deck…

The U.S. Coast Guard and local responders have rescued 55 people stranded aboard a high-speed ferry that hit a jetty while entering Hyannis Harbor, Mass. The local fire department notified Coast Guard watchstanders at about 9:30 p.m. Friday and reported that the Massachusetts Steamship Authority Ferry Iyanough, which serves Nantucket to Hyannis, struck the jetty and grounded on the rocks. A Coast Guard helicopter crew medevacd five injured passengers and airlifted 10 uninjured people who were unable to navigate the jetty’s rocks to get aboard the response boats. The remaining passengers and ferry crewmembers were rescued by Coast Guard response boat crews. Multiple units from the Cape Cod Mutual Response System assisted with the rescue efforts.

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…

Navigating interesting times has the nation’s shipbuilding industry searching in unusual places. The answers could be blowing in the wind. Conducting commerce and forecasting the future for shipyards is akin to setting out in uncharted waters. For some, the voyage might prove to be easy sailing with favorable winds. Other times, it can be a rough ride, forcing long and unprogressive diversions. In the worst cases, one might run aground temporarily, hit rock bottom, capsize belly up, or be forced to turn around and give up.

The newly built ferry M/V Woods Hole has been delivered to serve Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Built by Conrad Industries of Morgan City, La., the Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) designed ferry is the naval architects’ second design for The Steamship Authority. EBDG's scope for the project included extensive concept design, which proceeded to a design validation with CFD and towing tank development of the hull form, propulsion selection studies and passenger egress validation from the evacuation system.

M/V Woods Hole, a 235-foot long passenger ferry built for the Steamship Authority of Woods Hole, Mass., was christened on May 20 at Conrad Aluminum in Amelia, La. The ferry, with a beam of 64-feet, a draft of 10.5-feet and a hull depth of 18-feet, has the capacity to carry 384 passengers, 55 automobiles or 10 x 18-wheel tractor-trailers. The Woods Hole will run its 45-minute route to and from Martha’s Vineyard and the community of Woods Hole. The Steamship Authority Ferry schedule lists 14 trips daily.

It all adds up to the global effort to strengthen bottom lines, safety margins and the collective environmental footprint. The future for ferries seems to be on fire; both in good ways and bad. The good is always a good place to start. And, that’s because it is ferry fabrication time. The most notable ferry routes in America are jumping into the construction queue for new vessels and soon the next generation of ferry vessels will be hitting the piers (not literally of course).

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.

Gavin Higgins has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Ice Floe LLC dba Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB), the company announced today. Effective immediately, Higgins replaces Matt Nichols, one of the company’s founders who has served as CEO of NBBB since February 2012, also serving as CEO for more than 35 years prior to the company’s sale in 2008. Nichols will remain with the company as its Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, and as a member of the board of directors.

Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG), a naval architecture and marine engineering firm with offices in Seattle, New Orleans and Ketchikan, Ala., has been selected by the New York Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) to design a new class of ferries that will operate between the boroughs of Staten Island and Manhattan. The project scope consists of a complete design package, including contract drawings, specifications and other documents for vessels to replace the existing Barberi and Kennedy Class ferries. Also included in the scope are modifications to the existing Molinari Class ferries to retrofit a new propulsion system, something the city says is necessary to establish consistency between the new ferries and those that will remain in the fleet. Senator Charles E.

Vessel operators seek protection by hedging fuel needs. It’s easier than you might think. Some workboat operators defend themselves against higher diesel prices by buying futures contracts, while others purchase fuel at prices fixed in advance from their suppliers. Others, perhaps less-savvy and/or smaller companies, however, take their chances by buying in the spot market. While some operators are uncertain about their future fuel requirements and consumption, domestic ferry operators for the most part know exactly what they’ll need in the year ahead.

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.

Gavin Higgins has joined Nichols Brothers Boat Builders as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Gavin Higgins has been appointed the Chief Operating Officer at Nichols Brothers Boat Builders. Gavin’s duties will include oversight of Engineering, Production, Project Management, Purchasing and Facilities. He will be working with the current team for the successful delivery of two tugs and superstructure for the new Washington State Ferries currently under construction at the Freeland facility.

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.

Seattle-based Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) has been selected by The Steamship Authority to design a new 250' ferry to replace the aging M/V ISLANDER, which carries passengers and vehicles between Woods Hole and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. EBDG was recently awarded the contract to complete this multiple phase project which includes a Preliminary Design Study, Contract Design, Shipyard Bid Assistance, and Construction Support. As an initial task, EBDG completed a Design Study which looked at four design scenarios.

The Coast Guard and its state and local law enforcement and transportation partners have scheduled an exercise April 26-27 at the Woods Hole Steamship Authority ferry terminal to provide hands-on training for those who would be the first responders to any terrorism related incident on a ferry. The exercise will help familiarize first responder teams with the unique operational challenges aboard a ferry, as well as acquaint ferry crews and staff with law enforcement procedures during a terrorism incident. It will also be a dynamic opportunity for response teams from various agencies to interact and coordinate response protocols, and give agencies a chance to document lessons learned and areas for improvement.

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.