The ferry line board of governors Thursday approved a $17 million retrofit of a former offshore oil vessel. The ferry, which will be called the M/V Monomoy, will eventually join two other newly converted freight vessels that are set to join the Steamship fleet later this year.
Steamship workers discovered Friday that the Eagle ferry’s bow thruster was leaking gear lubricant, forcing the boat to go to the shipyard for repairs.
At the ferry line’s board of governors meeting Tuesday, Steamship staff said they were increasing the number of employees who can green light cancellations, expanding the call center hours and making other attempts to improve communication with customers about the status of ferries.
While most of commuters to the Island take Steamship Authority ferries from Woods Hole, a few dozen are now making their way to and from the Vineyard via New Bedford aboard the Whaling City Express, a high-speed catamaran for passengers only.
The Sankaty ferry was back up and running Monday after a crew shortage caused the Steamship Authority to cancel all of the freight ferry’s trips on Sunday.
MassDevelopment, a quasi-public agency focused on stimulating economic growth in the state, put out a request for proposals for the different parcels on the New Bedford state pier, including the spot used by the Cuttyhunk Ferry Company.
The M/V Aquinnah and M/V Barnstable have spent more than nine months at a shipyard in Mobile, Ala., transforming from offshore energy tenders to Steamship Authority freight ferries that can also carry passengers and cars.
Tisbury’s select board voted Wednesday to oppose a barging company’s proposal to ship large freight between New Bedford and the Steamship Authority terminal in Vineyard Haven.
