The Maine State Ferry Service is warning that some more trips between Vinalhaven and Rockland will be canceled in the coming weeks because of difficulties finding workers to staff them.
Throughout the spring, those staffing troubles, combined with an unprecedented number of vessels needing repairs, have disrupted state ferry service to islands off the midcoast and Hancock County.
Six workers who handle the decks of the ferries — a classification known as “able-bodied seaman” — are out on family and medical leave, and the service has been unable to find people to replace them, said Bill Geary, the service’s director, in a Facebook post on Thursday.
As a result, one of two boats running trips to Vinalhaven, the E. Frank Thompson, will not be sailing on Saturday and Sunday, and “there is a strong possibility” of further cancellations during June, Geary said. Those cancellations are announced on Facebook and via the New England 511 email and text service.
“We are exhausting every effort to crew these ferries and again thank those who continue to step up and take extra shifts to keep them running,” Geary said.
