b'The ferries that are scheduled to be retired are the M/Vneeded to update multiple vessels at the same time, making Gay Head, M/V Katama, and M/V Sankaty which werenew builds not financially feasible.purchased in the late 1980s and early 1990s. All three were used vessels when the Steamship Authority acquired them,In the fall of 2021, Steamship Authority representatives andallwerelengthenedandwidenedatvariouspointswenttotheGulftolookatseveralvesselsandquickly through their lives, serving the company well. Now, each iszeroed in on three OSVs because of the condition of the over 40 years old, and replacing them will improve the reli- ships. These ships had only been operated for about five ability of the Steamship Authority fleet and the operationsor six years before being retired in Louisiana. Therefore, overall level of service.Davis explained, though they might have been a little older on paper, there was minimal wear and tear making them Realizing the time had come to retire the ferries, the teamrelatively newer than the four-year-old M/V Woods Hole. began discussing a vessel replacement plan in the summer of 2021. After quickly determining that a mid-life refur- Another bonus of the three vessels is that they are identi-bishment of the three vessels wasnt a viable option, thecal. While the M/V Gay Head and M/V Katama are very conversation turned to the option of new builds. The M/Vsimilar,theyrenottechnicallysisterships.Thevessels Woods Hole had, at that point, only been in service for apurchased are and it will be the first time in the history little over four years and the team considered dusting offof the Steamship Authority that theyll have sister ships in those plans and building a sister ship. While it would beservice. Its a big win, making everything from training to a good route to take for one new vessel, the team felt theyparts and materials interchangeable, offering economy of Opposite page: The midbody of the vessels was removed to reduce the overall length to 245 feet, and the tanks from when they were offshore supply vessels were removed. The vessels were outfitted with two Caterpillar engines,two controllable pitch propellers; and three 950 horsepower thrusters. PHOTO: STEAMSHIP AUTHORITY19 DECEMBER 2024'