Community Corner
Should Steamship Authority Ban Unaccompanied Kids?
The Steamship Authority has never required children over 5 to be chaperoned aboard its ferries to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, but that may be changing with the introduction of a new policy.
The general manager of the has asked its board of directors to consider adopting a policy that would raise the minimum age at which children may ride the ferries unaccompanied.
According to the minutes from the board's Feb. 12 meeting,
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Currently the SSA requires only that children under five years of age must be accompanied by an adult who is responsible for their care and conduct during the passage, and many other ferry operators and transportation providers have policies that require all children under the age of 12 or 13 to be accompanied by an adult.
Although management feels that the SSA should establish a similar minimum age, the Board agreed to first solicit feedback from customers who would be negatively impacted by the proposed change before deciding whether to establish management’s proposed policy or some other policy the Board believes is more suitable.
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The Steamship Authority board next meets March 19 at 9:30 a.m. in the second floor of the Woods Hole terminal, according to the minutes.
What do you think? Would your family be affected if the SSA raises the age for unaccompanied children? Tell us in the comments.
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