After a profitable 2011, the Steamship Authority has started the year on a high note.

Vineyard and Nantucket summer reservations are up six per cent from a year ago as of the end of February, Steamship Authority general manager Wayne Lamson announced at Tuesday’s meeting of the board of governors in Woods Hole. “I think its a combination of some of the good weather we’ve had recently as well as the economy. I think people are looking forward to a good year.”

Mr. Lamson said that Vineyard bookings were up five per cent, while Nantucket was up 10 per cent for the summer.

As for 2011 the boat line’s net operating income stood at $4,379,118, or $2,893,786 higher than in 2010.

“These were primarily a result of fare increases that went into effect on Jan. 3, 2011,” said Steamship Authority treasurer Robert B. Davis, who presented the numbers at the meeting.

However, passengers to and from the Vineyard did decrease by 1.1 per cent over the year.

After the meeting Mr. Lamson told the Gazette that the slight dip was attributable to Hurricane Irene at the end of August as well as a slightly slow start to the year. But the increased fares, lower than expected maintenance, pension and health insurance costs offset that dip. The Steamship Authority’s fuel hedging program also saved the boat line over $600,000. Fuel hedging is a financial tool used to mitigate against rising fuel prices.

Also at the meeting the board of governors voted to change the hours for both the Mashpee and Martha’s Vineyard reservation offices to 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Past office hours were from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The earlier hours will accommodate the Steamship Authority’s preferred space program, which will begin taking reservations at 7:30 a.m. In the past preferred space reservations were sold starting at 8 a.m., but that had caused congestion in the summer with passengers trying to purchase tickets for the 8:15 a.m. ferry.