The Maine State Ferry Service has had to cancel trips to islands off the midcoast and Hancock County due to an unprecedented number of vessels needing repairs, as well as staffing shortages.
Three frequently used ferries have been out of commission in recent weeks, said Bill Geary, the service’s director, in a Facebook post on Friday.
The Margaret Chase Smith, which serves Islesboro, was out since Jan. 9 due to misaligned and worn reduction gear, but was expected to resume service this past Saturday. The Henry Lee, which serves Swan’s Island Island and Frenchboro, had been out since March 9 with a leak in its hull, but recently returned to service.
And the service’s oldest ferry, the Everett Libby — which usually only serves Matinicus but had been running daily to pick up the slack — had engine issues two weekends ago that required repairs.
Officials with the ferry service didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
The most cancellations have occurred in the two-boat schedule serving Vinalhaven, Geary said in the Facebook post. The service has announced some recent cancellations on Facebook, including on Sunday when three trips between Vinalhaven and Rockland couldn’t run due to staffing shortages. Last week, six trips had to be canceled due to maintenance.
“These are difficult decisions. We appreciate our Vinalhaven customers for understanding that we cannot leave other islands without service,” Geary said.
While the Henry Lee and Margaret Chase Smith have returned to service, there are still other ferries being repaired, including ones that serve Vinalhaven and North Haven. Geary said in the Facebook post that services should resume within a few days.
Staffing shortages have also contributed to the interruptions, Geary said, particularly among crew members who are certified as able-bodied seamen. According to U.S. Coast Guard regulations, the ferries cannot run if they’re not adequately staffed..
Geary said workers are picking up extra shifts, and the State Ferry Service is currently interviewing and offering jobs to fill six vacant positions for able-bodied seamen.
