It’s a truism that Islanders love their ferries. They scrutinize them, fuss over them like children, play favorites with them, make up funny nicknames for them and become exasperated by them when they break down. And of course they celebrate them — especially when they are brand new.

Such was the case for the ferry Woods Hole on Monday this week when she sailed into Woods Hole, the port village for which she is named, for a formal commissioning and setting of the watch. There was all the usual hoopla; a brass band played, speeches were delivered, flags flew. And then she sailed to Vineyard Haven and Islanders got to climb aboard and explore every nook and cranny of the newest ship in the fleet that is their lifeline.

By now the details have been well reported: her cost ($40 million) length (235 feet), beam (64 feet), cruising speed (14.5 knots) and purpose (freight, cars, passengers). Since she is multipurpose, is she a motor vessel (MV) or freight vessel (FV). Or is it both? Dialing boat line general manager Wayne Lamson to ask. But he’s not answering the phone — he’s on the Woods Hole, peering down at the world from the topmost deck (see cool photograph by Mark Lovewell on Page One of today’s edition).

Many have even expressed excitement over the plethora of USB ports found on the passenger deck.

That sounds like something only a geek could love.

The Woods Hole is far from geeky though — she’s sleek and quiet, and hopeless romantics that they are, Islanders appear to have fallen in love again.

She goes into service today, mostly plying the route between Woods Hole and Oak Bluffs.

Welcome Woods Hole; enjoy the honeymoon and long may you run.