Steamship Authority marks commissioning of M/V Barnstable

HYANNIS (December 16, 2024) – The Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority celebrated the commissioning of the M/V Barnstable on Monday, December 16, 2024, with a public ceremony and open house at its Hyannis Terminal.

The ceremony included remarks by federal, state, and local officials, including U.S. Rep. William J. Keating, D-Mass, and officials who were heavily involved in the project to convert the vessel for use by the Authority in its lifeline services to the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.

“The Steamship Authority ferry service is critical to the islands, the Cape and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” said Rep. Keating. “Today we are celebrating a great partnership between the Steamship Authority, the Federal Transit Administration, the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority and others to secure funding to enhance reliability and service to the islands.”

“It’s an honor to celebrate the M/V Barnstable today—not only for its impending service to Nantucket but also for the recognition it brings to Barnstable’s vital role as a hub for ferry services to the Island,” said State Senator Julian Cyr (D-Provincetown).

The M/V Barnstable is one of three sister ships purchased by the Authority in 2022 from Hornbeck Offshore Services of Covington, Louisiana. The vessel, along with the M/V Aquinnah and M/V Monomoy, was converted for use by the Steamship Authority at Alabama Shipyard in Mobile, Alabama. The purchase and conversion costs were made possible, in part, via an agreement with the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority that yielded $28.1 million in federal funding.

“I congratulate everyone associated with the Steamship Authority,” said Tom Cahir, administrator of the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority, who played a critical role in the Steamship Authority routes being designated as commuter services, enabling it to receive significant federal funding for the purchase of the new vessels.

“Not only do these vessels represent the most efficient, cost-effective and rapid path to upgrade the fleet and meet the vehicle and freight transport needs of the islands, but their similar design was a huge selling point for us,” said Robert B. Davis, general manager of the Steamship Authority. “The identical design of the vessels provides economies of scale through interchangeability of vessels for service needs, inventory of spare parts and crew training. In other words – it was a good deal!

During the M/V Barnstable conversion project, the vessel was bisected and its midbody removed to reduce its overall length to 245 feet. The vessel is outfitted with two Caterpillar engines, each rated at 2,000 horsepower; two controllable pitch propellers; and three 950 horsepower thrusters to allow for greater maneuverability. The vessel also boasts state-of-the-art radar, communications, and navigation systems, two marine evacuation systems and a rescue boat, and an interior passenger area with seating for approximately 80 passengers. The vessel can carry the equivalent of approximately 50 automobiles per trip.

“This project was very special to us,” said Greg Wagner, CEO of Alabama Shipyard. “Today’s commissioning ceremony is the culmination of more than 130,000 hours of work and we thank the Steamship Authority for entrusting us with a project that is so important to so many people.”

The vessel’s name was chosen as part of a 2022 naming contest that garnered more than 8,000 entries. Nantucket resident Ramona Davis and Rick Wingard were recognized at the ceremony for submitting the M/V Barnstable as a suggestion in the contest. Robert D. Jones, the Board chair for the Steamship Authority and its Barnstable representative, spoke of the special relationship between the Town of Barnstable and the island of Nantucket during the ceremony.

“The Steamship Authority and the Town of Barnstable have had a long and productive working relationship, and for that we are grateful and appreciative. Barnstable, in many ways, has become a ‘home away from home’ for islanders. The communities are interwoven through the lifeline ferry service provided by the Steamship Authority,” Jones said.

“We are deeply honored to have this vessel named after the Town of Barnstable,” said Barnstable Town Councilor Craig Tamash, acknowledging Mr. Jones’ longtime dedication to the Steamship Authority and the port of Hyannis.

Following the commissioning ceremony, the M/V Barnstable was scheduled to travel to Nantucket for a public open house. Following further training and outfitting, the vessel is expected to be put into service in January 2025.

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Since 1960, the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority has served as the transportation lifeline to the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard year-round. The Steamship Authority is the largest ferry service to the islands and offers the most frequent daily departures for passengers, automobiles, groups and trucks. In 2023, more than 2.9 million passengers and more than 690,000 vehicles of all sizes were transported to and from the islands. Our U.S. Coast Guard-certified crews are committed to the highest level of safety at sea while our vessels offer comfort and convenience with spacious seating, free Wi-Fi and TV on board.