Has The Steamship Heard Of Our Climate Crisis?

To the editor: The Steamship Authority recently shared its fuel usage numbers for each of its vessels. The fuel usage of the converted 16-year-old offshore supply vessel Barnstable (12.6 gallons/mile) is 50 percent more than the Sankaty (7.2 gallons/mile) and Katama (8.7 gallons/mile).

The fuel usage of the Barnstable (12.6 gallons/mile) is about the same as the SSA's fleet largest vessel, the Island Home.

We can expect similar poor fuel economy from the offshore supply vessel Aquinnah on the Woods Hole - Vineyard route when the Aquinnah goes into service during summer 2025.

Could the Steamship Authority not have done better with its most recently acquired vessels? Has the Steamship Authority not heard of the climate crisis?

Nat Trumbull