Updated Oct. 7
A crew shortage has led to 40 freight ferry cancellations last week for the Steamship Authority.
Last Friday, Oct. 4, the Steamship Authority announced that its freight ferry Sankaty would not be running its trips, starting with the 11:05 am departure from Woods Hole, until the 11:05 am trip on Sunday.
“Any affected passengers with vehicle reservations should report to either the Woods Hole or Vineyard Haven terminals to be placed in line for priority standby travel by our terminal staff,” the online announcement reads. “We apologize for the inconvenience, and thank you for your patience.”
Between Wednesday and Saturday, 34 of the Sankaty’s trips were canceled because of a crew shortage.
“It has been a single individual in most of these cases, either as a licensed deck officer or engineer,” Sean Driscoll, Steamship Authority communications director, told the Times. “We have been moving personnel around to fill in as possible, but it unfortunately is not always possible.”
The Sankaty isn’t the only vessel that experienced cancellations from a lack of crew. Another freight ferry, the Governor, had six of its trips canceled on Monday.
Crew shortages have struck the ferry line’s schedule several times over the year, one of the biggest hits coming when 16 trips were canceled during a busy summer weekend, which caused Vineyard officials to call for improvements to recruitment and retention efforts.
Steamship Authority officials have previously expressed concerns over the dwindling number of mariners, contributing to a global workforce shortage. With contract negotiations ongoing, Steamship captains have noted to the Times that the less desirable hours and pay offered by the ferry line, compared with other transportation providers, keep new talent from joining and staying. The contract for licensed deck officers expired on July 26. Driscoll told The Times negotiations with labor unions representing licensed deck officers and engineers are still ongoing.
Yes, and they are proposing a rate hike for this type of poor service.
Way out of line.
They are proposing a rate hike because they can not get people to work for existing wages.
The is no shortage of qualified people.
Mike, once the bridge is built, we won’t have to worry about finding a crew to drive us, we can drive ourselves.
Or traffic.
Traveling on the SSA the other night a crew member told me it wasn’t a crew shortage but a Captain shortage that was now the problem, since two had just retired. I have no way to know if this is correct, but it’s what I was told.
The Captain is a member of the crew.
It’s true.
This cannot be an “oh well” situation, but something the SSA has to fix yesterday! So many of us need to get off island for medical appointments or scheduled travel that it’s nerve-wracking not knowing if you’ll be able to rely on our “lifeline to the islands”. Get it together, SSA. Now. Truly, our lives depend on it.
How should the SSA fix the problem?
Pay more?
Raise rates.
You can always get off Island.
Private ferries and airlines.
Nicole, maybe you would be in favor of a bridge?
A true lifeline.
Manhattan
How many crew member, and what licenses are required for each vessel ?
It is posted in a publicly accessible area on each vessel.
The manning requirement and crew licenses.
You have thirty minutes a trip to read them.
You can even take pictures of them, and the crew .
Scale down and consider reverting to the original mandate?
Reduce the number of trips and capacity of the boats?
Pay up MV! Liberal policies created unprecedented inflation driving up the costs of goods and services. These are the results of governing with feelings instead of logical policies. You can’t sniffle that people aren’t being paid enough, demand your government intervene by forcefully raising wages then be aghast at higher costs. Remember you Need to pass the bill to see what’s in the bill. You voted for this.
Biden has inflation at near optimum levels for maximum growth of the economy.
Negative inflation crashes the economy.
Pay up MV! Liberal policies created unprecedented inflation driving up the costs of goods and services. These are the results of governing with feelings instead of logical policies. You can’t sniffle that people aren’t being paid enough, demand your government intervene by forcefully raising wages then be aghast at higher costs. Remember you need to pass the bill to see what’s in the bill. You voted for this.
Biden has inflation at near optimum levels for maximum growth of the economy.
Negative inflation crashes the economy.
Have you enjoyed the increased dollar value of your real estate holdings.
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