VESSEL CONVERSION | Aquinnah – Platform supplier rebuilt as Ro-Pax ferry to serve coastal routes in Massachusetts
The Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority (the Steamship Authority), a transport operator serving routes from Cape Cod to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket off the Massachusetts coast, has expanded its fleet with the recent acquisition of passenger ferry.
Aquinnah is one of three platform supply vessels (PSVs) purchased by the Steamship Authority in 2022 from Hornbeck Offshore Services of Covington, Louisiana, as replacements for ageing freight vessels with open decks that had also been originally built as PSVs.
Proven hull selected for new role
Aquinnah, formerly HOS Lode Star, was converted for use by the Steamship Authority at Alabama Shipyard in Mobile. The purchase and conversion costs were made possible in part via an agreement with the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority that yielded US$28.1 million in federal funding.
Robert B. Davis, General Manager of the Steamship Authority, had said that purchasing and converting the PSVs was the fastest and most cost-effective means of upgrading the company’s fleet to satisfy the transport requirements of both residents and visitors in the areas being served.
Davis had also said that, because all three vessels utilise the same design, it will allow the Steamship Authority to benefit from economies of scale. Specifically, a ferry can be taken out of service for maintenance and easily replaced with either one of her sisters, the same set of spare parts can be used across all three ships, and crews will be certified to operate all three ferries even if their training is conducted on just one.
Sister ship Barnstable has been in service with the Steamship Authority since December 2024 while Monomoy is scheduled to commence operational sailings under her new owner before the end of this year. As PSVs, all three vessels had operated along the Gulf Coast in support of customers in the oil and gas industry.
Extended dimensions and upgraded systems
During the conversion project, Aquinnah had her LOA increased to 245 feet (74.7 metres) and her beam widened to 64 feet (20 metres) through the installation of additional sponsons. Additional fuel tanks and a new HVAC system and bulkheads were installed though the gross tonnage was still kept under 1,600.
The main deck was meanwhile rebuilt to accommodate toilets and additional seats for a maximum capacity of 80 passengers plus space for up to 50 cars. In compliance with ADA requirements, the toilets have been configured to enable access for people with disabilities.
The vessel has also been outfitted with two Caterpillar engines, each rated at 2,000 hp (1,500 kW); two controllable-pitch propellers; and three 950hp (700kW) thrusters to allow for greater manoeuvrability.
Aquinnah also boasts modern radar, communications, and navigation systems, two marine evacuation systems, and a rescue boat. Access is by a transfer bridge that is used to board all passengers and vehicles. Wifi access is available on the vessel, as are vending machines.
