WOODS HOLE – A horn blared one low, 11-second note Monday afternoon from the newest vessel in the Steamship Authority fleet.
It was the commissioning ceremony for the M/V Woods Hole, a ship that took only about 16 months to build and which cost the Authority about $41 million.
Steamship Authority General Manager Wayne Lamson was the master of ceremonies for the event. He said that the ship will help carry passengers and freight during the increasingly busy spring, summer and fall months.
“When there isn’t as much truck traffic, then the vessel can load up automobiles and their families,” he said. “There’s plenty of seating, plenty of receptacles, and we think the passengers are really going to like it.”
The ship seats 384 passengers in total at 235 feet long, fitting in class right between the Authority’s other two vessels.
The ceremony featured performances by the Spirit of America brass quintet and recording artists Jilly Martin and Ryan Brooks Kelly.
Reverend Deborah Warner of the Church of the Messiah in Woods Hole delivered the invocation.
Others in attendance included State Senator Vinny deMacedo, State Representative Tim Madden, and Chairman of the Steamship Authority Board Elizabeth Gladfelter.
A contract signing for the M/V Woods Hole took place in December of 2014. The finished craft features Wi-Fi access, radar, many electrical outlets cushioned chairs, bench seating, tables, snack bar and restrooms.
The ship also features an elevator from the freight deck to the passenger deck.
It was built by Conrad Shipyard, LLC in Morgan City, Louisiana and designed by the Elliott Bay Design Group of Seattle, Washington.
The vessel is expected to begin service between Woods Hole and Martha’s Vineyard on June 17th.
It is also slated to run the 2 hour, 15 minute route from Hyannis to Nantucket.
About CapeCod.com NewsCenter
Speak Your Mind