The Steamship Authority has put the M/V Island Home back in service after the vessel’s main engine cooling system developed a problem Thursday evening, according to an announcement from the boat line.
“Repairs have been completed to the vessel,” SSA spokesman Sean Driscoll said in an email. “It is currently making its 8:15 a.m. trip from Woods Hole and is running late, but it is back in service. We thank our customers for their patience.”
Mr. Driscoll said that online booking would open as of noon on the Vineyard route as the boat line catches up with travel.
The smaller M/V Katama took the Island Home’s place Thursday night, with the SSA offering free parking and passenger travel to motorists whose reservations were squeezed out by the switch, the announcement said. The boat line cancelled at least four scheduled trips of the Island Home Thursday, starting with the scheduled 1:15 p.m. crossing from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven and continuing through the 5:00 p.m. scheduled Vineyard Haven to Woods Hole trip.
The Island Home remained offline Friday morning while the boat line attempted to diagnose the engine cooling problem. Meanwhile, the boat line suspended online bookings for Friday trips to and from the Vineyard, the announcement said.
Because of the Katama’s smaller capacity, SSA officials said they expected passenger cut-offs on the M/V Katama and encouraged walk-on travelers to take other departures if possible, according to the announcement.
“We apologize for the inconvenience,” Mr. Driscoll wrote.
