The Steamship Authority has ratified contracts for about 280 vessel employees in recent weeks, giving pay raises across the board and raising the potential for changes to shifts in the coming years. 

The boat line’s board at its meeting on Nantucket Tuesday approved the bargaining agreement for the licensed engineers. Agreements for licensed deck officers and unlicensed vessel employees were hammered out in closed-door sessions by the board in April and May.

“After nearly two years of thorough negotiations, I am pleased that these crucial contracts have been settled prior to the start of the busy summer season,” general manager Robert Davis said in a statement. “The acceptance of these contracts by all three union groups and by the Authority reaffirms the shared commitment to continuing to operate the Authority’s vessels in a safe and reliable manner.”

Disagreements over the contracts for licensed deck officers spilled into the public view in 2024, as worker shortages caused ferry schedules to be retooled and unexpected days sick could mean several trips cancelled. 

In the midst of contract negotiations last summer, several captains told the Gazette that they were faced with longer hours and lower pay rates when compared to similar ferry services. Officers and pilots also attended a forum on the Vineyard, handing out fliers to attendees that called for better pay and recruiting. 

All three unions agreed to new three-year contracts, according to the Steamship Authority. The licensed deck officers, which includes captains, pilots and mates, and the engineers will have their wages increase by 10 per cent in the first year, and 12 per cent in the second and third. 

“We believe this contract provides significant gains for our members and lays the groundwork for [a] more stable and prosperous future for everyone,” Jason Callahan, Atlantic coast vice president of the engineers’ union MEBA, said in a statement.

Unlicensed vessel employees will have their raise climb 10 per cent in the first year, 7 per cent in the second, and 6 per cent in the third; boatswains and oilers will receive an additional 3 per cent in second year to attract more seasoned and experienced mariners into the critical roles. 

Despite complaints from captains about the existing triple-crewing schedule, this will remain unchanged in the new agreement, according to the Steamship Authority. Unlike most ferry services, Steamship officers work 12 hours before six hours of rest, usually aboard a boat while it’s docked overnight, followed by six hours of work in the morning.

Last summer, several captains raised concerns that the long shifts, in addition to using overtime to cover for crew shortages, could lead to unsafe sailing conditions. 

“The quality of life has gotten so bad,” one captain said. “It’s a genuine safety issue.”

There is a potential for something different in the future though, as both the licensed deck officers and the engineers signed off on a memorandum with the Steamship Authority to develop and potentially implement alternative crewing options on an Island-based vessel in January 2027.

Jeff Sharp, the licensed deck officers representative with the Teamsters, could not be reached Tuesday and a spokesperson for the union did not immediately respond to a request for comment.