Steamship Authority Contractor Hits Back At Agency's Claims

FALMOUTH, MA – A contractor hired by the Steamship Authority to repair three of its boats is refuting the agency's claims of poor workmanship. The Steamship Authority last month placed much of the blame for a series of ferry problems on RI-based contractor Senesco Marine.

Senesco Marine was contracted to perform upgrades on three Steamship Authority boats, including a "mid-life" overhaul to a ferry called the Martha's Vineyard, according to the Boston Globe. All three returned with a myriad of problems, which preceded the breakdowns.

Robert R. Jones, vice chair of the Steamship Authority board of directors, said in May the agency has worked with Senesco in the past. While that work has been satisfactory, Jones claimed this time it was "shoddy," the Falmouth Enterprise reported.

In a statement released Wednesday by Senesco, the contractor pinned many of the issues on vendors selected by the Steamship Authority and said it "proudly" stands behind its work on the Martha's Vineyard.

"During the shipyard period, Senesco was required to engage numerous vendors hand-selected by the Steamship Authority to perform work on key components and systems," the statement read in part, according to the Globe. "The issues encountered by the Steamship Authority following the return of M/V Martha’s Vineyard into service appear largely directly related to work performed by these ‘sole source’ vendors.'"

Photo: The Steamship Authority ferry "Nantucket." (Credit: Steamship Authority)