Steamship Authority's new vessels named M/V Aquinnah and M/V Monomoy

NANTUCKET — Meet the newest members of Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority's fleet: the M/V Aquinnah and the M/V Monomoy.

The Authority Board voted unanimously Tuesday on names for the two new offshore supply vessels at its monthly meeting in Nantucket.

More: Woods Hole: Freight traffic headed to Steamship Authority ferries at issue

A naming contest was held to get ideas from the public. More than 8,000 entries were submitted, according to a release from the Authority.

What the new vessels will be used for

The Authority purchased the two vessels from Hornbeck Offshore Services of  Louisiana.  The vessels are used, having served the oil and gas industry off the Gulf Coast.

They will replace the M/V Gay Head and the M/V Katama, open-deck vessels, which mostly carry freight. The two are nearing the end of their useful life. The M/V Katama was built in 1981, according to the Authority website.

James Malkin, the Martha’s Vineyard representative on the board, said he liked the name “Aquinnah” since it is the Indigenous Wampanoag name for Gay Head.

“I thought it was fitting that we recognize the native owners of the land with that name,” Malkin said.

Wampanoag Tribe not consulted on using Aquinnah name

Peter Jeffrey, the Falmouth representative on the board, said he wanted to make sure the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah was OK with any Indigenous names being used. However, the Authority was unable to reach the Tribe before the naming decision and the names had to be picked quickly to conform to the purchase agreement for the vessels, he said.

Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) Chair Cheryl Andrews-Maltais said she was surprised to hear that the Authority had chosen the name "Aquinnah," since they were supposed to have a discussion with the Tribe before doing so.

"It's the town's name now, however, it is the tribe's name first and foremost," Andrews-Maltais said.

More: Steamship Authority: M/V Gay Head back in service in time for its peak season

She said that she expected the Authority to give deference to the Tribe before using the name, considering it's a traditional Wampanoag name.

The M/V Monomoy is a name that recognizes both the Cape and the Island, Malkin said. Monomoy is a spit of land extending southwest from Chatham towards Nantucket.

The M/V Aquinnah and M/V Monomoy were purchased in September and are expected to begin operating by summer 2023. The initial cost estimates to purchase, convert, and reactivate the vessels, is $30 million, according to a release by the Authority.

Two winners of the naming contest will receive a $250 gift card for the Steamship Authority and be invited to the welcoming ceremony for the newly incorporated vessels.

Get the Cape Cod news that matters delivered to your inbox.  Sign up for our free newsletters.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Steamship Authority finalizes names for new replacement vessels