The ferry Martha’s Vineyard lost power late Saturday afternoon, triggering a long evening of disruptions. On Sunday morning it cleared sea trials and was back in service.
The ferry Martha’s Vineyard lost power during a Saturday afternoon trip, triggering a long evening of disruptions and chaos again for the boat line on a busy weekend.
On Sunday morning the Martha's Vineyard cleared sea trials and was put back in service, the Steamship Authority said, but passengers should be prepared for delays throughout the day. The freight ferry Sankaty was brought over from Hyannis to help clear standby lines.
The issue was a fuel problem with the ferry generator, the Steamship Authority said.
Busy but orderly service on Sunday morning on the Vineyard Haven side.
Busy but orderly service on Sunday morning on the Vineyard Haven side.
The disruptions began at about 5 p.m. when the Martha’s Vineyard lost power as she was backing out of the slip in Woods Hole. The ferry dropped anchor until it was able to restart its engines and return to the slip. Passengers were left waiting on both sides for about three hours.
Only one slip is available in Woods Hole due to a major reconstruction project on the terminal. The freight ferry Katama, also disabled due to a failed generator, was occupying the the only available other slip. The boat line had to wait for a tug to move the Katama to make space for the Martha’s Vineyard.
The incident disrupted service during a busy weekend on the Vineyard, with people visiting for the annual Big Chili Contest and other events.
On the Vineyard Haven side lines were long, filled with many Chili Fest revelers, some still wearing big hats and carrying giant inflatable beer bottles. Evelyn Certuchi of Mashpee and Jessica Groman of Falmouth had been working security at the Chili Fest.
Chaos reigned Saturday night as Chili Fest revelers tried to get home.
Chaos reigned Saturday night as Chili Fest revelers tried to get home.
“After a long day at Chili Fest, it’s annoying,” Ms. Groman said of the delay. They were supposed to be on the 7:15 p.m. boat.
Elizabeth Cutler, visiting from Italy, had been traveling on a ferry leaving Vineyard Haven that had to turn around after the ferry Martha’s Vineyard lost power.
“People thought it was a joke,” Ms. Cutler said. Her guitar case and suitcase were at her feet. She said earlier she played an impromptu concert for the stranded travelers during their hour-long delay.
According to the Steamship Authority, the ferry Katama was later pulled by tug out of its slip, and the Martha's Vineyard moved to that slip under its own power. The ferry Island Home resumed service to Woods Hole with a 7:15 p.m. trip from Vineyard Haven, and the Woods Hole left at about 8:30 p.m.
The Island Home was expected to leave Woods Hole at about 9:15 p.m. followed by the Woods Hole at 9:30 p.m. Both vessels were expected to make one more trip from the Vineyard, at about 10:30 p.m., and the Woods Hole was expected to return to the Vineyard, arriving after midnight and berting in Vineyard Haven for the night.
Vineyard SSA governor Marc Hanover Hanover said Saturday it was unclear why the ferry Martha’s Vineyard lost power. He said the same captain was working on March 17, when the ferry also lost power, that time off East Chop. It had to be towed back to port and kicked off several weeks of ongoing problems with the ferries.
“The word is he’s incredulous,” Mr. Hanover said, speaking about the captain.
He added: “It’s been running just fine for I don’t know how many days. I have no clue what’s happening.” Mr. Hanover has called for an independent investigation into the boat line, but at a meeting on the Vineyard last month, other board members refused to back him, saying any problems could be handled internally.
At about 7:50 p.m. Steamship Authority staff on the Vineyard Haven side announced the Martha’s Vineyard had been towed out of the slip in Woods Hole and ferry service could resume.
Linda and Jim Bowen, visiting from Texas and with hotel reservations in Boston to get to, were in good spirits.
“They’ve done the best they can,” Ms. Bowen said. “We had some excellent scallops at the Black Dog.”
Holly Pretsky contributed reporting.
Comments
I have no clue what’s
Bruce EdgartownI have no clue what’s happening??? Mr. Hanover I hope you get a clue!
Pause the construction
VH Villager Vineyard HavenPause the construction project, open the slips, bring back Seastreak, get through the summer. We need these tourists. The last thing we want is for them to have a negative experience on our island. SSA - get your @##**% act together and stop destroying us!!!!!!
ETA on the next boat we can
Andy Vineyard HavenETA on the next boat we can get??? I’m not upset, it’s an island. Just want an ETA imeediatly when this stuff happens...
It’s seems to me, that with
Vineyard Haven Strong West ChopIt’s seems to me, that with all of the problems the SSA has had the last few months, the last thing they should do is have only one slip available. If anything goes wrong, which seems to happen at every turn, they have no backup slip to fall back on. I can say that when other companies have repeat failures as we have seen here, they cut the dead wood and make changes. The SSA has become so unreliable, I question why someone isn’t heard accountable?
Unfortunate and truly
Kerry Quinlan-Potter Oak BluffsUnfortunate and truly frustrating. Many children in WH returning from sporting activities, tired hungry and cold. Exhausted travelers and the people who come seasonally all wondering when they can get home. There is no movement on the Matha's Vineyard as of yet as it sits idle in the one available slip, and we can all sit here all night only to be told to leave eventually.
Its really an emergency situation at this stage, making this pilgrimage all the more baffling as time passes
Time for me to invest in a
John Parking lot - SSATime for me to invest in a tunnel pass.
Thankfully these incompetents
deshandra brown EdgThankfully these incompetents aren't running an airline.
Start building the bridge now
Bobby BStart building the bridge now
The captains must be going
Max TisburyThe captains must be going nuts. Us, too. C'mon, SSA, time for an outside review! You are our lifeline.
When this happened again and
Resident MVWhen this happened again and again in March and locals missed doctor appointments, funerals, interviews for jobs and the rest, we all just chalked it up to living where sound minded people wouldn't. We took responsibility for our dependence on a ferry line that in theory was created for us and by law serves us. And many of us thought, in that misanthropic way, common to fools dependent, wouldn't it be funny if this happened in July. Not quite there yet, but believe me SSA, while you focus on black BMWs and tractor trailers loaded with a million bucks worth of forty foot live trees (true, you just gotta be in the know), us Islanders figure we will get by regardless of getting left wrong side of the pond. You provide hope with this recent breakdown. Hope that hundreds of young hedge fund bros miss their AirBnB bookings and Instagramable vacations. You won't fix the boats for us, but those guys won't let you dodge the issue. This is most definitely turning into One Crazy Summer! (Great Cusack Movie btw)
way past time for outside
TJ Hegarty West Tisburyway past time for outside independent audit.
Way past time for SSA board of Governors to RESIGN.
Reported 17 mil repair. Actually 22 million.
low bid. Shoddy work.
Who is going to have to die before this malfiance is exposed.
FOLLOW THE MONEY.
I agree, Marc Hanover please
Gail EdgartownI agree, Marc Hanover please do something! Or step aside.....
Everyone should go... independent audit of the entire SSA!!
This happened just off of Red
Steve FalmouthThis happened just off of Red Ledge. That is a dangerous situation that could have easily caused the ferry to end up on the rocks
People get a grip. We live
Paulli D EdgartownPeople get a grip. We live on an island and we take ferry’s to the mainland and a high percentage of time over a year they run fine. Just breathe. Most of you sound like the sky is falling.
Over the years maybe, over
Steve FalmouthOver the years maybe, over the past few months, no. So yes it is a real problem
Get a grip? You obviously
Honeypie Oak BluffsGet a grip? You obviously haven't missed anything important because of this joke of a Steamship Authority. The sky isn't falling, but heads should certainly be.
Welcome To The Vineyard !
Bob St Germain Oak BluffsWelcome To The Vineyard !
Hey all, the Green Mountains
Ben VermontHey all, the Green Mountains are a great place to vacation this summer...best thing is, you can enter and leave the state any time you want. No waiting on either side...just don't order the fried clams.
Perhaps they could
Bob OBPerhaps they could permanently dock this lemon in VH and -- ta da! -- a new Tisbury School.
This is a quality joke!
Resident MVThis is a quality joke! Thanks for the laugh.
Board of Governors?
Islander MVYBoard of Governors? Incredibly poor oversight. SSA GM Robert Davis? It hasn’t even been a year since Wayne Lamson retired! Head of Maintenance? No accountability. No wonder the Seastreak is the savior. It’s privately owned. All so disappointing and disturbing. I wonder how all those people would feel of the roads to where they needed to go on the mainland were closed. They certainly talk a lot but otherwise talking @“!? Bring in independent consultant now!
Who is in charge of this mess
Tom EdgartownWho is in charge of this mess? Why start building a 3rd slip in the start of season? Why not start building in September? Why all the spending on build outs and more spending on boats and crews? Independent audit will tell us all these things..
Where is the governor, reps and selectmans?
Someone needs to do something and fast!
Well, it's become abundantly
Ferry Tale OBWell, it's become abundantly clear that the SSA should NEVER do business with Senesco again. Tens of millions handed over to that "maintenance" company and nothing back but shoddy work and broken boats. If heads aren't rolling somewhere in all this mess then a cover up is happening.
I was on that 5pm ferry. Had
CG MVI was on that 5pm ferry. Had to back off and sat in the lot for 4 1/2 hrs. With all the issues, it's time for compensation. Just like the airlines. Stranded, 4hrs,you get food vouchers,etc. SSA should give something..... Ferry Tickets,preference voucher for boar ding if in standby,hotel reimbursement, gas vouchers, food, Something....SSA has insurance??? Don't they???
There will be a beautiful
charlie callahan so boston/edgartownThere will be a beautiful multi million dollar TICKET OFFICE, but no boats to use the tickets on. Sounds like real good planning.
yes very dangerous, Red Ledge
Jim Oak Bluffsyes very dangerous, Red Ledge that's were the MV Islander ran aground back in 1988.
I beg to differ, it was later
Tina BROCKTONI beg to differ, it was later than 8:30 when we finally left vineyard haven...couldn't use bathrooms on the Ferry...ran out of food....and we were told that vehicles were to exit first once in woods hole which was not the case...misinformation was given throughout
This may be purely
WashAbhorred EdgartownThis may be purely coincidence, but a lot of the problems started shortly after (or came to light) former GM Wayne Lamson retired.
The buck does stop at that office.
This has become insane.....
Aaron MVThis has become insane......the statistical probability of so many breakdowns borders on the absolutely impossible....I know it sounds crazy but has the Steamship Authority looked at sabotage? Could a disgruntled employee be behind these calamities? It wouldn't be the first time an employee tried to ruin his/her company by trying to harm it economically.
Is there any chance that
Grace VHIs there any chance that Wayne Lamson could be hired as a consultant?
Build a bridge! It will
Finula Oak BluffsBuild a bridge! It will remove the novelty of coming to the island!
It is time for Marc Hanover
Really West TisburyIt is time for Marc Hanover to resign. It is not enough to call for an independent review after the fact, that should be automatic. These problems are just a symptom of a larger underlying problem, a problem that has either been ignored by the board or their incompetence has allowed it to fester unseen, either way they all need to go. If they want to do the correct thing now then they should put into place the private consultant and immediately resign to allow the new board the opportunity to receive the results. Private consultant that reports to the very people that could be the cause will allow for a corrupt process.
We all must be patient. We
Mack EdgartownWe all must be patient. We can always pop over to the Patriot boat when you are in a rush and Cape Air has been my go to in recent months - we have options!
Thanks, Mack, for a giggle in
PeregrineThanks, Mack, for a giggle in the midst of some serious transportation uproar. Will keep in mind the "popping over" to the Patriot (actually a stalwart, lovingly known as the Vomit Comet for running in all weathers, which may have something to do with serious upkeep) and the "go-to" Cape Air (have they ever fixed that seat behind the co-pilot that wouldn't go up-right ever?). I will be patiently waiting for further travel advice; I am guessing it will come from the Edgartown Reading Room, optionally of course.
I have lived here since the
R Scott Patterson EdgartownI have lived here since the late 80's and the SSA has never had issues like this! People need to be fired and an independent review is needed to get this fixed. This is not normal and we can't let the SSA convince us that it is.
Fish rots from the head down.
Larry Champlain FalmouthFish rots from the head down. Sometimes you just need to throw out the heads, hose things down and get some new fish.....
Relax people, If you hike Mt
brian mack MenemshaRelax people, If you hike Mt Washington while it's sunny & it starts to storm b4 you head down would you blame the weather or the mountain tour guide ? It's always a chance to get fogged in or have a ferry mishap and if you had an event that important you probably shouldn't had cut it so close, I'm sure that they don't break them on purpose geesh !
They spend money like drunken
deshandra brown EdgThey spend money like drunken sailors (no offense to my mariner friends who toss back a few)on new fancy terminals, and supposed 'upgrades and refurbishment" of FORMERLY reliable vessels. Lets not forget: IF the SSA runs a deficit, the taxpayers of MV are on the hook to pay.(per the enabling legislation)
The community members that
AB Oak BluffsThe community members that say just take the Patriot or fly are ridiculous. That won't work for everyone that wants to get off and on the Island. Flying is very expensive.A broken down boat once in awhile is ok, but not this. On a regular basis we are missing doctors' appointments, flights for vacations, planned fun shopping trips. We take days off from work and then can't get off the Island. We might not be able to take another day off.
The SSA could have delayed the raising the excursion rate to just before Memorial Day Weekend. It is not enough to just refund our ticket money.
HELLO, You live on an ISLAND
Moby Dick Vinyard SoundHELLO, You live on an ISLAND ! Maybe you should look into a new home on the MAINLAND
How about a jumbo tron or a
RFA EDGARTOWNHow about a jumbo tron or a times square crawl signage on the side of the SSA ticket office showing what is happening, real time, like at just about every airport on earth.
boat(s) on time, boat(s) late, boat(s) cancelled.
the lack of info during times like last saturday night is unacceptable.
we asked several different SSA employees for an update and received several different answers, non of which was accurate.
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