Monday will be a day of celebration for the Woods Hole, the newest ferry to join the Steamship Authority fleet.

The Steamship Authority will hold a commissioning ceremony for the Woods Hole at the Woods Hole terminal today at noon. The ceremony will include the formal reading of the Orders of Commission, raising of the colors, setting the watch, music, and remarks by Steamship Authority dignitaries and local officials.

Festivities began Monday morning as new ferry arrived from Fairhaven in Woods Hole. — Mark Lovewell

Scheduled speakers include U.S. Rep. Bill Keating, state Rep. Tim Madden, Woods Hole senior captain Al Brox, Steamship Authority general manager Wayne Lamson, boat line governors Elizabeth Gladfelter (Falmouth) and Marc Hanover (Martha's Vineyard) and Rev. Deborah Warner from the Church of the Messiah in Woods Hole.

From 12:30 to 2 p.m. following the ceremony, there will be an open house aboard the ferry in Woods Hole.

At 2:10 p.m. the Woods Hole will depart for her ceremonial maiden voyage to Martha's Vineyard. From 3 to 4:30 p.m., the public is invited to an open house aboard the Woods Hole at the Vineyard Haven terminal. The ferry is scheduled to return to Woods Hole at 4:40 p.m.

The Wood Hole will visit Nantucket on Tuesday for an open house from about 1 to 2:30 p.m.

On Friday, June 17, the Woods Hole is scheduled to begin service between Oak Bluffs and Woods Hole.

The new ferry has already been spotted at Island ports in advance of next week's milestones. Steamship Authority general manager Wayne Lamson said Friday that the Woods Hole has made practice runs in and out of Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs. No passengers were carried on those trips.

More photos of the ferry Woods Hole.