Steamship Authority Fast Ferry Hits Barge In Nantucket Harbor

The Steamship Authority's fast ferry, the M/V Iyanough, suffered minor damage to its stern and had one round-trip canceled on Monday after it hit a barge tied up at the end of Steamboat Wharf in Nantucket Harbor.

The incident occurred as the vessel was backing out of the south slip for its 12:30 p.m. departure to Hyannis. The tug boat Realist and a barge operated by the Robert B. Our company had been tied up at the end of the wharf since early Monday morning. After the collision, the Iyanough pulled back into the south slip where its captain and crew inspected the damage before eventually departing nearly 40 minutes late.

No injuries were reported, but the impact left the Iyanough's stern slightly damaged, and the Steamship Authority canceled its 2:30 p.m. voyage to Nantucket. The Steamship's communications director Sean Driscoll stated it would resume service at 5 p.m.

"The M/V Iyanough allided with a barge that was moored off the eastern face of the Steamship Authority’s Nantucket Terminal as the vessel was leaving for its 12:30 p.m. departure," Driscoll said in a statement provided to the Current. "The vessel pulled back into the terminal slip and the U.S. Coast Guard was informed of the incident. No injuries were reported, and the vessel was allowed to proceed to Hyannis with its passengers on board. The extent of the damage and the circumstances of the incident are under review."

Passenger Ken Dugal was aboard the Iyanough when it struck the barge and shared a video of a crew member banging part of the stern with his foot following the incident.

"They just sent it in reverse without making sure the stern was clear and smoked the barge," Dugal said.

Island resident Nadezhda Slavovska said she had just dropped off her family at the boat and was waving goodbye to them on the wharf when she witnessed the ferry strike the barge, resulting in a "loud bang."

A worker on the barge told the Current he also witnessed the incident and stated it appeared the ferry captain turned too early as he was backing out of the slip and hit the barge, which did not appear to suffer any damage from the impact.

Nantucket Current captured this video of the Iyanough leaving Steamboat Wharf following the incident which shows the slight damage to the stern of the vessel:

The tugboat Realist and the barge tied up at the end of Steamboat Wharf did not suffer any apparent damage from the incident: