The Steamship Authority will shortly begin contract negotiations with HMS Consulting and Technical Engineers of Seattle, Wash., to undertake a comprehensive review of operations.

A severed ramp cable caused a 45-minute delay for passengers and vehicles on the ferry Governor in Woods Hole early Tuesday morning.

The ferry Island Home went out of service briefly late Friday morning but was back in service by early afternoon.

Seven passengers were briefly trapped in an elevator about the ferry Martha’s Vineyard Wednesday.

Cape Cod Times reporter Sean F. Driscoll has been hired as communications director for the Steamship Authority, the boat line announced.

The freight ferry went out for repairs in Woods Hole Saturday afternoon and later returned to service.

Reliable ferries. Better communication. An independent audit. These are the items the Steamship Authority needs to address urgently, according to a survey taken over the last week by people who use the boat line to travel to and from Martha’s Vineyard.

The Steamship Authority port captain has resigned, boat line general manager Robert Davis confirmed Thursday.

Steamship Authority governors voted unanimously to immediately seek a top-to-bottom independent outside review of boat line operations.