Rhode Island Fast Ferry Cancels 2020 Season

QUONSET, RI — The Rhode Island Fast Ferry announced Wednesday that it will not provide any service to Martha's Vineyard this summer. Company owners said it was impossible to ensure the safety of passengers and staff because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"The layout of high-speed ferries is such that, even with socially distant seating arrangements and substantially reduced capacity, close interaction with other passengers and our crew is unavoidable," the company said in a statement. "For the safety of our extended family and yours, we believe this is the right decision."

The company, founded in 2003, offers ferry service from Quonset, Rhode Island to Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, as well as sightseeing cruises of the Narragansett Bay. Year-round staff will stay employed, the company said, focusing on making improvements to facilities and ferries for the 2021 season.

Anyone who has already booked a trip will be notified of the cancellation and will receive an automatic refund. Gift cards and travel funds set to expire this year will be extended to 2021.

Despite the hurdles presented by the pandemic, the Providence to Newport ferry, meanwhile, still plans to offer service this summer. A spokesperson for the Seastreak-operated ferry said the season is expected to begin at the end of June. More information is available on the company's website.