MV ISLAND HOME

[FNS]

Greetings, all!

If all is going well, the new MA ferry MV ISLAND HOME is on her way to her new home of MA.

www.mvgazette.com/news/2007/01/26/island_home_ready.php

This vessel is 255 feet in length and 64 feet in beam. She is a miniature QUEEN OF COQUITLAM with an enclosed car deck with doors at each end.

There are four decks for passengers. The Main Deck is for cars and trucks. Lower passenger lounges are at each side on the Tween Deck. The Saloon Deck has a substantial passenger cabin with a wrap around view of the scenery between Woods Hole and Martha's Vineyard, her intended service assignment (this deck has a snack bar, heads, et al). The Sun Deck will be popular on warm days and is accessible from interior stairways, elevator, and from the end prom inner corners (exactly what you see on the WSF Jumbo Mark II ferries). She is ADA compliant with two elevators.

She is designed by Seattle's Elliott Bay Design Group, an "offspring" from the legendary Nickum and Spaulding firm.

According to the Vineyard Gazette, the ISLAND HOME is due for public debut in March.

So, there is good reason for us to plan on a trip to MA this year.

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

She's not on the site yet:
web1.steamshipauthority.com/ssa/ferries.cfm
If it wasn't already mentioned in a previous thread, the Island Home will replace the Islander. A good story about the Islander's history can be found here:
www.boston.com/news/globe/magazine/articles/2006/08/06/final_crossing/

I found some other interesting notes from the Jan 07 Meeting Minutes.

The vessel’s [Island Home] sea trials were postponed until this coming Friday, January 12, 2007, so that the shipyard could correct a noise interference problem between the vessel’s engine controls and bowthruster drives,

Also coming into service is the Iyanough, which will replace the Flying Cloud (see first link above)

[FNS]

WELCOME HOME, MV ISLAND HOME!


LARGER PIC ON BELOW LINKS

The new MV ISLAND HOME has made it to her place of intended service in Massachusetts. She arrived at about 1700 EST Monday at the Steamship Authority’s Fairhaven dock. After some more work, crew training, public showings, commissioning, et al, she will begin her career on the Vineyard services.

www.mvgazette.com

www.mvgazette.com/news/updates/index.php?news_update=60&headline=Ferry+Island+Home+Arrives+in+Fairhaven

She sure looks like a northwest ferry! ;D

Look for an update on mv gazette Friday for an extended coverage of her arrival.

[FNS]

Here are links to the MV Times with stories of the MV ISLAND HOME (second link may need time to load and may require special software):

www.mvtimes.com/

www.mvtimes1.com/daily/skins/news/navigator.asp?BaseHref=NEWS/2007/02/01&Page=32&Skin=NEWS&Action=view/issue

[Low Light Mike]

Thanks for those new links.

The platform decks, shown in one of the pictures, remind me of those on the Queen of Prince Rupert.

[FNS]

The new MV ISLAND HOME made her first visit to Martha's Vineyard Tuesday afternoon. It was a trial visit prior to her public debut in March. Rave reviews are in for this vessel!

www.mvtimes.com/news/2007/02/22/island_home.php

[FNS]

OPEN SHIP THIS WEEKEND

The new MV ISLAND HOME is slated to welcome Vineyard folks aboard for tours Saturday. After an 1130 ET commissioning ceremony, the ship is open from 1200 to 1400 ET. See the new exciting report from the MV Times below:

www.mvtimes.com/news/2007/03/01/island_home.php

Neat pictures are included of one of the Tween Deck side lounges, stowable Tween Deck vehicle platform, galley, and Sun Deck with abundance of seating for the warm days of summer (and for hardy souls in winter).

An open ship is slated for Woods Hole on Sunday from 1400 to 1600 ET.

The MV ISLANDER's last day will be Monday morning. A farewell ceremony will take place at 1100 ET at Vineyard and her final voyage will sail at 1200 ET. She will be readied for surplus at Woods Hole upon her arrival. The new ISLAND HOME begins her work at 1315 ET from Woods Hole starting a wonderful new experience for everyone going to and from Martha's Vineyard.

See Martha's Vineyard webcam at:

www.mvtimes.com/webcam.php

From time to time, the ferry dock will be shown. Other angles will be shown as well.

[FNS]

CHANGING OF THE SHIPS

The official changing of the ships took place yesterday as scheduled. The ISLANDER is now retired and will be surplussed.

When you look at the new MV ISLAND HOME for the first time, you'll think this is a Northwest ferry. She is designed by Seattle's Elliott Bay Design Group. Her Saloon Deck ends are almost identical to the TACOMA with the same access-ways to the Sun Deck.

When looking at the ISLAND HOME all day yesterday and today on the MVT webcam, I couldn't realize that the folks there are experiencing below freezing temperatures. Very sunny day there today, but very cold. I sure hope she doesn't crack as she was built in the very warm climate of southern Mississippi.

She is an awesome sight for the Vineyard folks. Biggest ferry they have ever seen there. For us here on Puget Sound and BC, she is a cute miniature replica of the QUEEN OF COQUITLAM (enclosed car deck with doors at each end) and TACOMA (Saloon Deck ends).

Hope to get to MA to see her someday soon.