The boat line is taking steps to create and fill new management positions and add systems for training, safety and quality, senior managers and their independent consultants said.
Worries about the Steamship Authority dominated a town hall meeting hosted by Cape and Islands state legislators on the Vineyard Monday night. More than 100 Islanders turned out for the meeting.
On Tuesday Islanders will hear firsthand from independent consultants what the SSA needs to do to regain the public trust. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the high school Performing Arts Center.
Boat line governors awarded a new maintenance contract to Senesco and scheduled a public meeting on the Vineyard for March 5 to present results of the recent assessment of operations.
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.
