The Steamship Authority freight ferry Gay Head had a minor scrape with a construction barge at the Woods Hole terminal over the weekend.

Windy conditions were a factor in the incident, which took place Saturday morning while the ferry was backing into the southern slip in Woods Hole, SSA communications director Sean Driscoll said in an email.

“There was cosmetic damage only and, after a Coast Guard inspection, the vessel was cleared to resume service. One round trip was canceled,” Mr. Driscoll also said.

It was at least the second time in less than a month that an SSA vessel made contact with a barge holding heavy equipment for the $60 million terminal reconstruction.

On Dec. 18, the ferry Martha’s Vineyard brushed against a barge while pulling out of Woods Hole. The extent of the damage was paint transfer, Mr. Driscoll said at the time, and the Coast Guard allowed the vessel to remain in service.

That incident came one day after general manager Robert Davis told the boat line board of governors that some ferry captains were canceling trips in conditions they judged likely to bring their moving vessels into contact with the barge.

“It’s a difficult approach at best and an unsafe one at worst,” Mr. Davis told the board at the Dec. 17 meeting. 

The barges are expected to be in place at least until mid-February, Mr. Davis said.

Operated by terminal contractor Jay Cashman Inc. of Quincy, the barges hold construction equipment such as a crane for moving heavy materials and a diesel hammer for driving piles.

The longest barge, which supports the towering red crane on its turntable amid a host of smaller machines and materials, is 160 feet long, according to Mr. Davis.

The slip under reconstruction is next to an operational slip, and Mr. Davis said the crane could not be moved farther away because of the heavy loads it has to lift.

The SSA holds its next public meeting at 10 a.m. Jan. 21 at the administration building on Palmer avenue in Falmouth.

On Jan. 22, the public is invited to the administration offices from 3 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. to review the concept design for the new terminal building.

Originally designed as a two-story structure, the ticket building concept now calls for a single-story main building with a two-story utility building nearby.

Drawings and descriptions of the latest design are online.