Ferry crossing delayed by fuel spill

0
A worker cleans up a spill near the MV Martha's Vineyard in Woods Hole Thursday morning. - Jim Osborn

Updated 12 noon

The MV Martha’s Vineyard’s is back in operation after about an hour and a half delay.

The 9:30 am crossing from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven was delayed because of a spill.

Sean Driscoll, a spokesman for the SSA, wrote: “While loading the 9:30 a.m. trip aboard the M/V Martha’s Vineyard, a semi experienced a fuel leak while driving onto the vessel. The truck was backed off the boat, but about five gallons of diesel fuel spilled as a result of the leak. A small amount of fuel dripped into the water, causing a sheen that was approximately 4 feet by 6 feet. SSA personnel have cleaned the majority of the sheen and the landside fuel spill; we are waiting on Coast Guard approval to let the vessel depart the slip. We have made reports to the EPA’s National Response Center and the Mass. DEP, as required.”

The Vineyard Haven to Woods Hole ferry is listed on the Steamship Authority as being delayed for “unforeseen reasons.”

Passengers from the Martha’s Vineyard were loaded onto the MV Nantucket.

At about 11:15 am, Driscoll updated the situation. “The [Martha’s Vineyard] has been cleared to leave Woods Hole and is en route to Vineyard Haven,” he wrote. “The 0930 trip was not canceled but was about an hour late and we expect residual delays today as we try to make up the time.”

While Woods Hole was down to one slip for a while while the truck was moved, by 12 noon it had been removed and two slips are operational in Woods Hole once again, Driscoll said.

Updated with more details. -ed.