The Martha's Vineyard Times
Steamship Authority changes course on hay
The Steamship Authority will now allow the transport of hay on all its vessels. – Rich Saltzberg
The Steamship Authority has loosened its restrictions on hay transportation following an uptick in farmer discontent on the subject.
Vineyard farmers complained in January that SSA policy on hay had become more restrictive and compromised a vital resource for the upkeep of livestock. At the time, the SSA claimed its policy remained unchanged.
“There has been no change in SSA policy regarding transportation of hay,” SSA spokesman Sean Driscoll said in January. “Regardless of whether or not it is in a semi, hay must be transported on an open-air vessel as a safety measure, as it is highly flammable. Any instances that hay would have been taken in an enclosed vessel would have been with the permission of and at the discretion of the vessel’s captain.”