Report: Steamship Authority is ‘Penny-Pinching’ Organization

HYANNIS — A new report says the Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket Steamship Authority is a "penny-pinching" organization with lax regulations.

The consultant report released Monday concludes that the Steamship Authority has not adapted to modern day standards over the past 20 years, and that many of the problems currently facing the organization are not an anomaly, but "the new norm," warning that the problems will persist unless changes are made.

Over the past year, three vessels lost power in transit, one ran aground, and hundreds of trips were canceled.

The report states that "excessive frugality" by the Steamship Authority has led to understaffing across the organization, especially within key technical roles such as vessel operations and engineering.