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Steamship Authority outlines fleet additions, reservation system upgrade and terminal study; Nantucket representatives seek more engagement
Summary
Steamship Authority board member Rob Ranney and General Manager Bob Davis updated the Select Board on fleet renewals, a new reservation vendor, a planned terminal feasibility study and possible changes to the embarkation fee and to board term limits.
Representatives of the Steamship Authority told the Nantucket Select Board on July 23 they expect to have three newer vessels operating on the route by the end of the year, are under contract to upgrade the reservation system, and plan a feasibility study on terminal improvements.
"We expect in October to be doing the commissioning ceremony for the Monomoy," said Bob Davis, the Steamship Authority general manager. Davis said the authority aims to replace older vessels and has plans for a long‑term capital build but needs to identify funding sources. "We do have a long term capital plan [and] a feasibility study also in our capital budget, to start looking at that facility and what we can do to improve it and make it secure for the next 40 to 50 years," he told the board.
On operations, Davis said the 2026 operating schedule has been released for public comment and that overall service levels on the Nantucket route are expected to match this summer, with the Eagle, Woods Hole and the new Bosstaple (Bosstables/Bosstaple spelled variably in the meeting) in service and some sailings served by Monomoy later in the season. Through July, passenger counts on the Nantucket route were up 2%, automobile traffic up just under 5% and truck traffic up about 2.5% from last year, Davis said.
The Steamship Authority board awarded a contract to Idea, an international reservations vendor used by other ferry operators, to replace its reservation system. Davis said the target is to roll out the passenger side of the new system by next spring, with automobile reservations following for the 2026/2027 automotive season.
Davis also noted two legislative proposals to increase the Steamship Authority's embarkation fee: one bill would raise the fee from $0.50 to $1.00 and another to $2.00. He said neither bill had hearings scheduled and staff remain unsure whether they will be acted on before the session ended. Board member Rob Burnett and Nantucket port council member Nat Lowell urged the Select Board to consider placing an item about proposed board term‑limits on a future county meeting agenda so local officials and constituents can weigh in.
The Steamship representatives said they will work with the town on terminal planning and invited the town to engage on the feasibility study and long‑range capital planning; the Select Board and county officials said they would follow up to schedule additional discussion.
No Select Board votes were taken on Steamship items at the July 23 meeting.
