Steamship Authority to host multiagency emergency response exercise in Oak Bluffs

OAK BLUFFS (March 30, 2026) – The Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority, in cooperation with local, state, and federal agencies, is hosting a maritime security exercise at the Oak Bluffs Terminal on April 8, 2026. The event will start at approximately 10 a.m. and run until 3 p.m.

The event will include a security simulation that will result in a loud boom sound at the outset. The exercise participants are working with local authorities to alert residents of Oak Bluffs and the surrounding area that this is a drill and not an actual emergency.

The terminal and the immediate surrounding area will be blocked off for safety reasons during the event. As the terminal is not open for the season, no travel will be affected.

A joint news release will be issued following the event recapping the activity.

Since 1960, the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority has served as the transportation lifeline to the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard year round. The Steamship Authority is the largest ferry service to the Islands and offers the most frequent daily departures for passengers, automobiles, groups, and trucks. In 2025, more than 2.9 million passengers and more than 674,000 vehicles of all sizes were transported to and from the Islands. Our U.S. Coast Guard-certified crews are committed to the highest level of safety at sea while our vessels offer comfort and convenience with spacious seating, free Wi-Fi and TV on board.

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