The ferry Martha’s Vineyard resumed service on Monday morning with the 7 a.m. run from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven, the Steamship Authority confirmed, after a day out of service following a power loss off East Chop Saturday night.
“The Coast Guard released it last night,” said Marc Hanover, the Vineyard boat line governor.
Steamship Authority general manager Robert Davis said in a statement that the the ferry completed sea trials Sunday with a back-up fuel pump, and was further inspected by the Coast Guard before it was cleared to return to service Monday morning. It was operating Monday on its normal schedule.
The vessel lost power during the 8:30 p.m. run from Vineyard Haven to Woods Hole. The boat had to be towed back to the Vineyard Haven arriving shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday morning. There were 72 passengers, 11 crew members, three food service employees, and 12 cars aboard.
Mr. Davis said in the statement that an investigation found that the main fuel oil transfer pump on the Martha's Vineyard was not generating enough pressure to transfer fuel oil properly, which led to the vessel losing power.
“I have heard from numerous passengers that the crew was outstanding, handing out pillows and trying to make the passengers as comfortable as possible,” Mr. Hanover said.
The power loss Saturday came on the heels of several days of troubles with the ferry Woods Hole, which briefly grounded Thursday and was out of service Friday and Saturday because of an onboard operating error.
Mr. Davis said in the statement that a new control mechanism was installed Sunday night on the Woods Hole. The vessel was ongoing tests but was expected to be fully operational on Monday, he said, though scheduled trips might be delayed.
“We’ve had a difficult four months,” Mr. Hanover said.
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