Statement regarding Nantucket Terminal operations

UPDATE (April 9, 2025): AGM Marine Contractors has mobilized equipment and personnel to determine the safest method to remove the fender system from the water outside the north vessel slip.  

The timeline for that work first involved a dive survey, which was subject to weather conditions on Nantucket. The dive surveys have shown the pipe piles appear to be intact at the site of the incident and should be able to be reused to support a new dolphin. Retrieval of the structure is scheduled to begin today.

Engineering work is under way to develop a plan to repair the dolphin, but the project will require permitting and a public bid process before it can begin. The north vessel slip will remain closed until the repair is finished due to the marine hazard posed by the exposed pipe piles.

The Authority is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the detachment of the concrete clump at the dolphin.

UPDATE (April 7, 2025): The Steamship Authority has made arrangements with AGM Marine Contractors to remove the concrete clump from the water outside the north vessel slip. The area has been marked as a marine hazard, and the north slip remains closed until futher notice. The Authority is developing plans to have the dolphin repaired and investigating the necessary permitting for the project. 

NANTUCKET (April 6, 2025) – As the M/V Eaglewas leaving the Steamship Authority’s Nantucket Terminal for its 5:30 p.m. departure on Saturday, April 5, the vessel’s port side came into contact with the outermost dolphin, a berthing structure, in the terminal’s north vessel slip. The concrete “clump” that sits atop the metal pilings forming the base of the dolphin became detached and fell into the water outside the perimeter of the vessel berth.

The crew of the M/V Eagle were made aware of the incident during the vessel’s trip to Hyannis. When the vessel arrived, the crew performed a thorough inspection of the vessel, and no damage was discovered. The M/V Eagle was allowed to make its scheduled 8 p.m. departure after consultation with the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Authority is arranging for divers to inspect the pipe pilings on the dolphin to determine if any damage occurred under the water line of the structure and to determine the precise location of the concrete structure. In consultation with the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Southeast New England and the Town of Nantucket harbormaster, the Authority will place a hazard marker at the pipe pilings to warn mariners of the hazard to navigation. Additionally, the Authority will inspect the other dolphins at the terminal.

The north slip at the Nantucket Terminal is currently out of service, and it will remain closed for an undetermined period while the scope of the needed repairs is determined. The south slip remains fully operational. Travelers should expect delays on the high-speed passenger ferry M/V Iyanough due to the north slip being out of service.

The Authority is conducting a thorough review of the incident, and it will release further information and service updates as it becomes available.

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