The Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority Vineyard and Nantucket that are not transported by air. The present Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority was formed from the New Bedford, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket Steamboat Co., which in turn was a consolidation of earlier companies dating to the early 19th century, just before the railroad arrived. Early steamers included the "Marco Bozzaris", "Telegraph", "Massachusetts", "George Law", "Naushon", "Helen Augusta", "Metacomet" (1854), "Canonicus" (1856), "Eagle's Wing" (1854–1861), "Monohansett", "River Queen", "Island Home", "Martha's Vineyard", "Nantucket", "Gay Head", "Uncatena", "Sankaty", "Nobska", "New Bedford", "Naushon", "Mercury", and "Hackensack". The motor vessel retired in 2007. The last steamship in
Martha's Vineyard (steamboat) The same article also adds a quotation from 1871: From 1871 until 1886, the "Martha's Vineyard" and the "Monohansett" were the only two ferries serving Martha's Vineyard. In March 1886 the "Martha's Vineyard" became one of the initial four steamers operating for the newly organized New Bedford, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket Steamboat Co. (The other three were "River Queen", "Island Home" and the "Monohansett".) In 1922, a new steam-powered ferry "Martha's Vineyard" began service to the island. It operated until at least the 1940s. In 1993, a new diesel-powered ferry named started its service to Martha's Vineyard and Woods Hole.