MV Islander

Career
Name:	Islander
Operator:	Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority
Port of registry:	United States
Route:	Vineyard Haven, Martha's Vineyard - Woods Hole
Builder:	Maryland Drydock Company
Launched:	1950
Acquired:	1950
In service:	1950
Out of service:	2007
General characteristics
Length:	201 feet
Decks:	3
Capacity:	770 passengers

The M/V Islander was a 201-foot (61 m)-long ferry formerly operated by the Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority (SSA). It was built in 1950 by Maryland Drydock Company and was a ferry for the Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority, primarily on the Martha's Vineyard run, until March 5, 2007, when it was replaced with the new M/V Island Home, a new ferry which is both larger and faster than the "Islander".

Initially expected to be sold for scrap, the M/V Islander was saved in 2007 when the State of New York made a late $500,000 bid to purchase the vessel for service between Manhattan and Governors Island, slightly ironic since one of the current SSA ferries, M/V Governor was formerly in the same service. The ferry is currently (February 2009) docked at Governor's Island.

Following a more complete survey the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation determined that the ferry had suffered from too much deferred maintenance and required $6,000,000 in repairs. The M/V Islander was put up for sale on eBay and sold to buyer Don Slovak for the winning bid of $23,600.

In August 2009, the upstate scrap metal collector Don Slovak, who bought the M/V Islander on eBay in February drew up plans to sue, saying the state's refusal to hand it over wrecked his chance to sell it.

In court papers, Mr Slovak said he suffered $171,400 in lost profits because the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corp. would not give him the documents he needed to resell the M/V Islander.

Slovak contends GIPEC officials wanted him to sign a "docking agreement" before giving him a bill of sale.

Governors Island officials did not respond to calls for comment. The agency has said the ferry was not released because Slovak doesn't have proper insurance.