Steamship Authority governors meet Wednesday in Falmouth with a full business agenda, but a much-anticipated report on operations from independent consultants has been delayed for another month.

The meeting begins at 10 a.m. in the boat line administrative building on Palmer avenue in Falmouth.

The final report from marine consultants at HMS in Seattle is now expected in mid-December.

When it does come, it will be missing a key analysis involving the boat line’s public communications system.

SSA communications director Sean Driscoll confirmed Monday that the communications portion of the study had been dropped by joint decision of the boat line and consultants at HMS. Mr. Driscoll said part of the reason was there had been problems scheduling a video conference call with a subcontractor for the consultants to review factual findings associated with that part of the study.

The subcontractor is Rigor Analytics of Marion, Mr. Driscoll said.

“It was agreed on both sides that at this point the most practical way to proceed was without that part of the report,” Mr. Driscoll said. He also said the communications part of the report could be included in a separate report or could be dropped altogether, to be determined later.

HMS was chosen by the boat line board last summer to conduct an independent review of operations following an unprecedented spate of breakdowns on ferries last spring. The boat line was widely criticized for its handling of the matter, including poor public communications. The HMS review was outlined to cover five general areas: vessel operations, fleet maintenance, management structure, public communications and IT systems. Among other things consultants planned to gather data and information, examine logs and records and examine reasons behind trip cancellations and communication lapses.

The SSA is paying HMS $217,976 for the review, but Mr. Driscoll said if the communications part of the study is ultimately not included then the contract price will be adjusted.

Mr. Driscoll was not on board at the time and was hired last summer in the aftermath of the crisis.

Two recently retired boat line senior managers — general counsel Steven Sayers and operations director Phil Parent — are coordinating information on the boat line side for the consultants.

“It’s an independent study so we are not involved except to answer questions and provide factual information, which all goes through [Mr. Sayers and Mr. Parent],” Mr. Driscoll said.

In addition to the regular business agenda, the boat line board is expected to hear from a group that has been organizing a petition opposing the design of the new terminal building in Woods Hole.

The group had collected 400 signatures as of Monday.

Mr. Driscoll said discussions remain ongoing over the proposed terminal design, including with Woods Hole residents.

He to date said no changes have been formally proposed for the design, but if there are changes they will likely need to go to the architects early in 2019.

“We are approaching a point at which we need to make a decision but are not at that point yet,” he said.