MV Lady Martha MV Lady Martha MV "Lady Martha" is a high speed catamaran ferry operated by Hy-Line Cruises out of Hyannis, Massachusetts. "Lady Martha" was built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding and was delivered as "Grey Lady II" in 1997, the second vessel of the name to operate for Hy-Line between Hyannis and Nantucket Island. She remained in this service until 2003, when she was replaced by . She was leased to an operator on the US West Coast for several years before returning to Hy-Line in 2005 to operate between Hyannis and Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard, receiving interior modifications and new engines
Martha's Vineyard island, as compared to the rate of 20 percent deaf-hearing marriage in the mainland. The sign language used by Vineyarders is called Martha's Vineyard Sign Language (MVSL), and it is different from American Sign Language (ASL). However, the geographical, time, and population proximities state that MVSL and ASL are impossible to develop in complete isolation from each other. MVSL was commonly used by hearing residents as well as Deaf ones until the middle of the 20th century. No language barrier created a smooth communication environment for all the residences on the island. In the 20th century, tourism became a mainstay