Governor’s back, and then sidelined

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The Governor is back, but almost as quickly as it returned it was sidelined by mechanical issues. -George Brennan

Updated @ 1:50 pm

The MV Governor, the Steamship Authority’s oldest ferry, was scheduled to be back in service today as the SSA’s schedule changes and the Oak Bluffs terminal reopens for the season.

However, as of 8:20 am, the Governor remains in a Woods Hole slip sidelined by unspecified mechanical issues. According to email alerts sent out by the SSA, the 8:35 am crossing from Vineyard Haven to Woods Hole has been canceled.

Sean Driscoll, an SSA spokesman, wrote in a text message that there is an issue with the bow engine. He had no further details.

Asked about what protocols are in place when a vessel is returning to service, Driscoll wrote, “The vessel undergoes seasonal repairs and internal sea trials before it returns to service.”

The Governor did make an appearance in March, when the MV Woods Hole was sidelined. The Governor also had mechanical problems at that time.

Later in the day Tuesday, Driscoll told The Times that the Katama would be subbing in for the Governor’s scheduled 2:50 pm crossing from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven.

As of Wednesday, the Governor remained in a slip in Woods Hole, not moving, and tying up one of three slips.