MV Island Home

The MV Island Home is a ferry built by VT Halter Marine in 2005 for the Steamship Authority. She replaced the MV Islander on the Authority's route between Woods Hole and Vineyard Haven.[1] She has been serving the Woods Hole–Martha's Vineyard route since her maiden voyage on March 5, 2007.[4][2]

MV Island Home

Namesake	Island Home
Owner	Steamship Authority
Route	Woods Hole–Martha's Vineyard
Builder	VT Halter Marine[1]
Cost	$32.1 million[2]
Laid down	April 27, 2005 (2005-04-27)[3]
Maiden voyage	March 5, 2007[2][4]
Homeport	Woods Hole, Massachusetts
Status	In service
General characteristics
Length	255 feet (78 m)[1]
Speed	16 knots (18 mph)[1]
Capacity	1,200 people, 76 cars[1]

The Island Home is different from most vessels in the Steamship Authority fleet in that she is a double-ended ferry and does not have to turn around before entering a slip.

Island Home was named after the sidewheel steamer Island Home which served Martha's Vineyard for most of the second half of the nineteenth century.

Her keel was laid on April 27, 2005[3] and she was launched on July 21, 2006.[1] Her final construction cost was $32.1 million.[2]

Island Home was built to a plan by the Elliott Bay Design Group, and has a capacity of 1,200 people and 76 vehicles, with a loaded displacement tonnage of about 1,950 tonnes and a gross tonnage of 4,311.[1] She is powered by two Electro-Motive diesel engines, and has a top speed of 16 knots (18 mph).[1]

In October 2007, Island Home experienced a minor collision when the Governor struck her while departing Woods Hole; damage to both vessels was minimal.[5]