Marine consultants hired to review Steamship Authority operations delivered the fifth and final piece of their critique last week, detailing shortcomings in the boat line’s public communications, and won a new contract to help carry out their overall recommendations.
Only the signature of Governor Furcolo now remains to turn into law the bill setting up a new Steamship Authority with three members, locally appointed, to represent the Vineyard Nantucket, and Falmouth, and with final emancipation from New Bedford. State House observers and others believe that the governor will sign the measure promptly, although the strong political pressure from New Bedford is not discounted.
The long boat strike came to an end last night after the ratification of an agreement with the unlicensed men closely following the pattern of that previously reached with the licensed men. The agreement is, in essence, the modified 0-4-4 proposal which had received widespread publicity.
The vote of the union for ratification after a prolonged session lasting until 6 last night, was 90 to 6. The Authority voted unanimously, 4 to 0, for ratification.
Ferries are running better than ever, but the Steamship Authority needs a management overhaul. That was the message from Vineyard SSA governor Marc Hanover to the Dukes County commission.
The Steamship Authority needs to change its management culture or face more potentially dangerous disruptions in service, the leader of a five-month study of boat line operations said Monday.
A independent review of the SSA describes an organization so focused on saving money and reacting to emergencies that it has failed to follow basic business practices.
