The U.S. Coast Guard is monitoring the progress of repairs being done to the Steamship Authority ferry “Martha’s Vineyard”, which lost power Saturday night about fifteen minutes into its trip from Vineyard Haven to Woods Hole.
The captain of the Martha's Vineyard reported the incident to Coast Guard watchstanders Saturday at 9 p.m. The vessel was about 15 minutes into the 45 minute trip.
The Coast Guard Cutter Hammerhead and a boat crew from Coast Guard Station Woods Hole responded to the scene along with three tugboats. The ferry was towed into the Vineyard Haven ferry terminal at 1:30 a.m. Sunday.
The Steamship Authority says 72 passengers and 14 crew members were on board the ferry when it lost power. There were no reported injuries and the cause of the power loss is being investigated.
The vessel had gone back in service March 7 after an $18.5 million refurbishment that included the installation of three diesel generators.
Steamship Authority General Manager Robert Davis says it's too soon to tell if the power failure was connected to the improvements.