Updated March 13
The Steamship Authority (SSA) experienced another batch of canceled trips on Monday.
According to SSA staff, the freight ferry Sankaty was taken offline because of a problem with its steering wheel.
SSA spokesperson Geoff Spillane told The Times Monday that the steering gear pumps on the vessel were “found to be out of sync” and required repairs. Repairs were expected to take place on Tuesday morning. Spillane said that the MV Katama transitioned from Hyannis to take up the Sankaty’s schedule.
SSA communications director Sean Driscoll told The Times on Wednesday, March 13, that the Sankaty’s sea trials were underway. The Katama will continue running the Sankaty’s schedule until repairs are completed.
The SSA reported that several trips between Vineyard Haven and Woods Hole were canceled as a result.
This is the second week in a row that the SSA had to make multiple cancellations for the vessel. Last week, a crew shortage led to several cancellations on the Sankaty route when Vineyarders were returning from school vacation.
The MV MBTA strikes again. The trains derail after rebuilding tracks. The boats breakdown because they are junk
I remember when the Island was great, no SSA.
To be fair, several trips were cancelled due to weather conditions. The wind was blowing fiercely on Sunday and Monday. But all of those cancellations were on trips with the Sankaty. So not only does she have a habit of breaking down regularly, she’s also not seaworthy.
You’ll be very happy sitting in you car waiting for the cancelled ferry when you can admire the new $50m+ Woods Hole terminal.
Was a new terminal needed?
Did you submit a bid?