Steamship Authority Continues to Explore Freight Options

WOODS HOLE – The Steamship Authority continues to look at short- and long-term options for freight services between New Bedford and Martha’s Vineyard.

General Manager Wayne Lamson says the Authority’s recommendations remain the same after receiving minimal public comment to a preliminary feasibility study on running freight between the two locations.

“Short term there is a need to find a facility in New Bedford that a ferry operation could operate from,” Lamson said. “Right now State Pier is not in good shape so that would have to be repaired and reconstructed.”

Lamson said they are also looking to see if there is a private operator that could be used to provide the service.

“We are talking to various parties and seeing what might make sense long-term and start working towards that vision,” Lamson said.

The Steamship Authority tried running freight between New Bedford and the island before without success. A pilot project was conducted from 2000 to 2001 and found that the Steamship Authority lost $680 per truck in 2000 and $410 per truck in 2001.

“You don’t want to set up something that’s going to fail so you need to come up with a service that has the best chances of succeeding,” Lamson said.

The Authority is going to look at freight on an incremental basis.

Lamson said the authority is looking at how Martha’s Vineyard disposes of waste.

“It’s all shipped by truck and whether or not that can be transferred by barge at some point between the Vineyard and New Bedford that would help to relieve some of Falmouth roads with a few trucks a day that go back and forth hauling trash,” Lamson said.

The authority is also looking to see if there are other barging opportunities available or if a private carrier could provide the service on a profitable basis without having to be subsidized.

By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter

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