MV Woods Hole

MV Woods Hole is a passenger and vehicle ferry operated by the Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority.

The Authority awarded the vessel's $40.4 million[2] construction contract to Conrad Shipyard, located in Morgan City, Louisiana, in December 2014.[1] Construction was completed in 2016, and Woods Hole was christened on May 20, after which she underwent dockside and sea trials before traveling north to her namesake city.[2] On June 13, she was commissioned into the Authority's fleet during a ceremony in Woods Hole, and began regular service four days later.[3] During her first few months in operation, she displayed a tendency to generate an excessive bow wave; while not impeding her operations, the Authority made some modifications in an attempt to correct the issue.[4]

Woods Hole was built to a design from the Elliot Bay Design Group,[1] and is 235 feet (72 m) long, with a 64 feet (20 m) beam and a loaded draft of 10.5 feet (3.2 m).[3] She can carry 385 people, and has a vehicle capacity of up to 10 tractor trailer trucks or 55 cars.[2] She is powered by two MTU diesel engines, with a service speed of 14.5 knots (16.7 mph)[3][2]