The Steamship Authority’s vessel Martha’s Vineyard now sports a vintage whistle, the pleasing sound of which harks back to a time of proper ships, staterooms and service to Nantucket and New Bedford. We listen for the departure whistle from Vineyard Haven as the Martha’s Vineyard sets sail to go about her appointed rounds, including her later stops at Oak Bluffs.

Another memory called to mind is that of the marching band playing upon the upper deck. A vestige of this is seen in today’s band arriving for the Portuguese festivities in August. Just like the annual Illumination and activities outdoors in the Camp Ground, tradition here in Oak Bluffs, even now preserved in its architecture and many parks and classic hotels, often goes inadequately appreciated. But what a tradition to restore, on clear days in season!

The restoration of the whistle now aboard Martha’s Vineyard echoes a similar restoration aboard Eagle, now in service between Nantucket and Hyannis. Appreciation for this should go to Mr. Flint Ranney of Nantucket and the Steamship Authority.

Whistle signals are not optional; they are mandatory, in accordance and compliance with the rules of the nautical road.

The whistle now aboard the Martha’s Vineyard results from considerable efforts over time to accomplish this significant contribution by a group of Islanders interested in the preservation of nautical customs, traditions and usage, and the Steamship Authority.

The steamers (really steam, not diesel) used the whistle signal one short, one long, two short (blasts of the whistle), which is Morse code for the letter L, and may have meant “landing” for vessels approaching a pier, to alert both the line handlers and dock hands on the pier. One short blast on the whistle meant “visit complete, prepare to get underway.”

Those with long memories will fondly remember those days of side-loading ships (never called ferries) before the days of roll on, roll off made possible with the double enders, beginning with Hackensack and Islander. These were the days of the New Bedford, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamboat Company, owned and operated by the New Haven Railroad as an extension of their lines from New York and Boston to New Bedford and Woods Hole. Time has brought many changes: ports served (no longer Edgartown), ownership, the vessels themselves, side-loading to the roll on roll off, the use of transit sheds, and governance (from the New Haven to the Authority).

It would be nice to see the appropriate use of whistle signals by all local vessels and an appreciation by the local and traveling public of the lawful measures provided for their protection and safety, and in particular the steamboat whistle now aboard and used by the Martha’s Vineyard.

John Boardman
Oak Bluffs