Steamship Authority marks commissioning of M/V Aquinnah
OAK BLUFFS (May 16, 2025) – The Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority celebrated the commissioning of the M/V Aquinnah on Friday, May 16, 2025, with a public ceremony and open house at its Oak Bluffs Terminal.
The ceremony included remarks by federal, state, and local officials, including a recorded message from 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.
“Everyone here knows that the Steamship Authority and its vessels are the lifelines of the islands,” said Keating. “With the purchases of the Woods Hole and the Island Home and the addition of the Barnstable and the Monomoy and the Aquinnah to replace the Steamship Authority’s aging fleet of freight vessels, we’ve made a commitment to ensure reliable safe transit of passengers and goods to both islands for many years to come.”
“It’s a real honor to be on Martha’s Vineyard today to mark the commissioning of the M/V Aquinnah, the newest addition to the Steamship Authority’s freight fleet,” said State Rep. Thomas Moakley. “This vessel is a response to the evolving and increasing needs of the island and reinforces the Steamship’s essential role in providing reliable and consistent service for islanders.”
The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) participated in several aspects of the ceremony. Chief F. Ryan Malonson performed the invocation, and Tribal Chairwoman Cheryl Andrews-Maltais and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Bettina Washington provided historical context to the tribe’s history on Noepe, the ancestral name for Martha’s Vineyard.
“The island is so popular now that people come to visit us from all over the world and it put a strain on this system and our lifeline,” said Andrews-Maltais. “However, the Steamship Authority has risen to the occasion by continuously adding new ships, new crew and expanding its services. The workhorses that we have are the freight ferries and island ferries that are there for us to use as our lifeline and are greatly appreciated. In particular, the Aquinnah, which is also our name, is very special to us.”
The M/V Aquinnah 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 Barnstable 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.
“Looking ahead, I’m excited for the continued collaboration between the Cape Cod RTA and the Steamship Authority as we work together to preserve and grow this vital source of funding for years to come,” said Kathy Jensen, acting administrator of the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority.
“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.
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – it was a good deal!”
During the M/V Aquinnah 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.
The vessel’s name was chosen as part of a 2022 naming contest that garnered more than 8,000 entries. Cambridge resident and frequent Vineyard visitor Olivia Weisser was recognized at the ceremony for submitting the M/V Aquinnah as a suggestion in the contest.
James M. Malkin, the Board chair for the Steamship Authority and its Dukes County representative, spoke of the benefits the sister ships will bring to the Steamship Authority’s service to the islands.
“These vessels will provide a cost-effective and dependable solution to bridge the gap between now and the next generation of ferries. And, given their similar design, it will be much easier to maintain and repair the vessels and interchange them on different routes,” he said. “For Martha’s Vineyard, we look forward with hope and enthusiasm to the continuation of reliable ferry service and focused customer service between our island and the mainland.”
Following the commissioning ceremony, the M/V Aquinnah traveled to Woods Hole for a public open house. Following further training and outfitting, the vessel is expected to be put into service prior to the start of the summer season.
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