<p>In the first third of 2018 549 ferries were cancelled because of mechanical problems, more than triple the amount in the last four years combined.</p>
In the first four months of 2018, the Steamship Authority had 549 ferries cancelled because of mechanical problems, more than triple the number of ferry breakdowns in the four previous years combined.
In total, the boat line saw 870 ferry trips cancelled on the Vineyard route between January and April because of mechanical breakdowns, weather issues and end-of-day freight trips that were not needed.
By comparison, in all of 2017 there were 484 cancellations, 26 due to mechanical breakdowns. A total of 148 ferries were cancelled for mechanical reasons from 2014 through 2017.
The numbers tracking cancellations from 2014 through this year appear in a staff summary circulated among boat line board members Monday prior to the monthly Steamship Authority meeting on Nantucket next week.
“I think the numbers speak for themselves,” Vineyard SSA governor Marc Hanover said. “It’s clear we have a huge problem and it needs to be corrected.”
The 14-page report highlights the growing crisis around the boat line over the problems on the Vineyard route and outlines a plan to improve SSA operations, as an alternative to a costly proposal submitted by McKinsey and Company last month.
The McKinsey proposal and its $500,000 price tag is also detailed for the first time in the staff report.
Mr. Hanover has called for the outside independent review, but at a meeting on the Vineyard in April his fellow board members took a different tack, instead asking management to present an alternative plan within two weeks.
Growing controversy now surrounds the SSA over an unprecedented spate of breakdowns and disruptions in service that began in mid-March on the Vineyard route. In April the problems appeared to be solved, but last weekend the ferry Martha’s Vineyard saw another mechanical breakdown, triggering a fresh swirl of criticism and concern, including on social media.
The Monday staff summary acknowledges the many problems — including a communications system that is outmoded and unwieldy — and describes a complicated plan to solve them.
Apart from the extreme number of cancellations on the Vineyard route this year, a staff analysis also found an increasing pattern of cancellations due to weather conditions. As a result, new reporting procedures have been put in place for captains and terminal agents to keep better track of delays and cancellations.
The report also outlines a plan to improve communications, beginning with the hiring of a new communications director, who will be responsible for both developing and carrying out a comprehensive “improvement plan” to the SSA’s communications system.
Until the new communications director is in place, an array of staff responsibilities will be reassigned internally to better manage communication, including updates on the website, travel advisories and email alerts.
A new communications and operations center is proposed that would be housed in the recently completed administration building off Palmer avenue in Falmouth.
The report also proposes working with the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce and hosting a public forum on the Vineyard to hear suggestions from Islanders. The forum is tentatively planned for June 5 at the regional high school.
Mr. Hanover said Monday that he still plans to press for outside review at the meeting on Nantucket next Tuesday.
“I believe the general manager and staff are doing all they can, but they don’t have the tools and I don’t believe they can solve this,” he said. “Somebody from the outside needs to be brought in.”
Comments
Spending $500,000 to confirm
deshandra brown EdgSpending $500,000 to confirm incompetency...that speaks for itself.
So it looks like a previously
Steve FalmouthSo it looks like a previously not perfect but reliable organization has imploded. The apparent lack of morale is concerning
That is a nice new terminal
WashashoahThat is a nice new terminal building though. And a new office building. Hey at least the fares and parking aren't going up! Um...
That's a track record worse
John Mort EdgartownThat's a track record worse than an airline! Holy cow......
Sounds like we bought a
Ken Edg.Sounds like we bought a couple of lemons. Ive had cars like that.
The biggest problems are
Ginny IslanderThe biggest problems are because of the designs and the construction of the new vessels. Instead of picking one tried and true design for a vessel we have a whole fleet of vessels which are in most instances, very different from one another. Look at the budget figures of how much is being spent for annual operating expenses and maintenance and you will notice how expensive the newer boats are to operate. On the Vineyard run the MARTHA'S VINEYARD, the ISLAND HOME and the WOODS HOLE are significantly different from the others and even more different from the freight boats. The latter vessels have been refitted to carry freight and some passengers and n the main they run reliably and are very sea worthy. The MARTHA'S VINEYARD ran reliably until this last big "midlife refit" (more accurate as a mid life crisis!) with its princely price tag. The WH and WH appear to be money pits and worse, they are high with lots of windage, thus unwieldy and hard to maneuver in high winds. I've left out the GOVERNOR because if, as we've been told, she only cost a dollar, her costs over the years have been modest. Of course, there isn't all that super structure to maintain. She runs effortlessly, with little wake, and with a world class view. She is double ended so much easier to load and unload and there is almost no wake. Islanders love her though visitors complain about salt spray on their vehicles.
The ferries are "our ride home" and while it may be nice to have fancy snack bars, free wi fi and all the glitzy stuff, just give us the reliability of a well designed, relatively simple, comfortable, safe and sea worthy vessel and most of us will be happy. Do I get $500,000 for that simple but very sensible advice? In fact, I'll give the SSA a steeply discounted option for a fraction of that figure.
Communications Director ???
Jim BarnstableCommunications Director ???
How about simple truth- if $500,000 can't buy that let's ask Yossarian what he thinks....
SSA is stuck in 1972 and you really don't need a Communications Director to see it...
So, in otherwords, don't take
Dee Stewart Boston MassachusettsSo, in otherwords, don't take the ferries?
People may belooking under
Jim FultonPeople may belooking under the wrong rocks. Times and Gazette reporters certainly are.
Mechanical and electrical problems are best solved by mechanics and electricians, not committees, consultants and paper-shuffling bureaucrats.
If the SA can contemplate $500,000 for more consultant studies, maybe it can find monies for good mechanics and electricians. What's going on in the boiler room, not the boardroom?
As for new coverage, there have been enough press releases, hand-wringing interviews and proper speeches. Are any reporters avoiding the PR agents and instead snooping around the docks Senesco and Burnham?
People may belooking under
Jim FultonPeople may belooking under the wrong rocks. Times and Gazette reporters certainly are.
Mechanical and electrical problems are best solved by mechanics and electricians, not committees, consultants and paper-shuffling bureaucrats.
If the SA can contemplate $500,000 for more consultant studies, maybe it can find monies for good mechanics and electricians. What's going on in the boiler room, not the boardroom?
As for new coverage, there have been enough press releases, hand-wringing interviews and proper speeches. Are any reporters avoiding the PR agents and instead snooping around the docks Senesco and Burnham?
So I still question the fact
Gabrielle West TisburySo I still question the fact of why there are so many cancellations on the Martha's Vineyard route versus The Nantucket route aside from the mechanical issues it seems as though we have the same weather therefore there should be some parity. Furthermore it's ridiculous how the SSA treats Islanders, why should our rates fluctuate with the summer traffic, this is never been explained to me. Furthermore they charge us to change reservations, updating a profile is harder than getting a passport, and if we go off Island for more than 30 days then we have to get a new ticket. What gives them the right to restrict our travel plans? It seems that we are always bearing the burden and they do little to serve us.
Though its been reported on
Richard Souza MashpeeThough its been reported on the news, I'm not that familiar with the vessel(s) involved and their age....
But can we use the term, "Aging Fleet" here?
The Steamship Authority tried
Barry Eager Berlin & FalmouthThe Steamship Authority tried to standardize the fleet following the design of the Nantucket (1974). They built Martha's Vineyard on that model. They tried to replace the Islander with that model, but politics intervened. My purpose is not to revive old debates, rather to note that the management did try to standardize, but politics won out. Therefore we have a varied fleet.
The SSA needs a complete
Bruce EdgartownThe SSA needs a complete audit, but they refuse... why???
Mr. Hanover has to step up and demand one... if not reach out to our residents and elected officials
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