Steamship Authority names new chief operating officer

FALMOUTH (February 21, 2025) – Mark H. Amundsen, the director of maintenance and engineering at the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority, has been named the organization’s new chief operating officer.

Amundsen was chosen from multiple qualified, internal candidates for the role. He will assume his new position immediately.

“Mark brings an extensive amount of experience and knowledge to the Steamship Authority, and I am pleased to continue to have him as a member of the team,” said General Manager Robert B. Davis.

As chief operating officer, Amundsen will be responsible for planning, directing, and overseeing all activities of the Marine Operations and Shoreside Operations departments, the Engineering Department, and the Operations and Communications Center. Amundsen will work closely with the general manager to ensure that the vessel and shoreside operations teams collaborate to keep the Authority’s operations on schedule and manage communication channels, maintain and improve efficiencies, and focus on development plans.

Amundsen joined the Authority in 2019 and has served as the director of marine operations and director of engineering and maintenance. Most recently, he has overseen the conversion of three vessels – the M/V Barnstable, M/V Aquinnah, and M/V Monomoy – at Alabama Shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, in preparation for bringing the offshore supply vessels into service for the Authority.

Amundsen has more than 30 years of experience in operations, strategic planning, technical management, and engineering in the international shipping industry. His expertise includes strategic transportation business development, oversight of safety compliance, structuring and negotiating long-term contracts, cost control and purchasing elements, and presiding over dry dockings all over the world. He received his bachelor’s degree in marine engineering at Maine Maritime Academy, Castine, Maine, and is a licensed chief engineer of steam and motor vessels. 

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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 2024, more than 2.9 million passengers and nearly 674,000 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.