Fast Ferry to Hire 50 for Expansion

The Rhode Island Fast Ferry announced that it will add a newly constructed $6 million state-of-the art fast ferry, the Ava Pearl, to its Martha's Vineyard route. 

The vessel, being built at Gladding-Hearn Shipyard in Somerset, MA, is being put into service next month. 

"We are excited to be on the cutting edge of the fast ferry technology, we will be celebrating our 10^th season and all our passengers will truly be benefiting from our success," President Charles A. Donadio Jr. said.

The new 150-passenger Ava Pearl, designed by Incat Crowther of Australia, will replace the current vessel 400-passenger Millennium catamaran.  The Ava Pearl has been designed to meet the needs of the service route and its passengers; the ferry will be lighter, having only two EPA Tier 2-approved diesel engines and driven by propellers, making the ferry more fuel efficient. 

The new ferry features an “S” bow shape, a large dynamic active trim-tab ride-control system and higher freeboard, which will give the ferry the latest in sea-keeping technology to enhance passenger comfort.

The interior cabin space will be all business-class service with more leg room, luxurious Beurteaux seating, along with a snack bar, two restrooms and five flat-screen TV monitors.  There is a separate luggage area forward and rear as well as space for bicycles on the aft deck. Outdoor seating will be provided on the forward bow, with the upper deck featuring outside sundeck as well as protected outdoor seating.

Donadio said, “The Ava Pearl will set the bar to the highest level with comfort amenities, seakeeping technology and of course customer service. The company and its employees are excited to be on the cutting edge leading the fast ferry industry.”

The 400-passenger Millennium catamaran will be put into daily sightseeing, which will expand the Rhode Island lighthouse cruises and sunset cruises on Narragansett Bay. 

Donadio said that during the last four years the lighthouse cruises were only available three days a week and they always sold out. This year he will be offering the cruises seven days a week, along with the sunset cruises, corporate charters and special event cruises viewing the America’s Cup Races and the Tall Ships in July.

Rhode Island Fast Ferry Adding Jobs

Rhode Island Fast Ferry will be increasing its workforce to around 50 employees for the summer months. The company is looking to hire qualified captains, engineers, licensed mates, deckhands and customer service agents. More information can be found on the tour website.

Rhode Island Fast Ferry provides ferry service from Quonset Point to Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard, and sightseeing cruises from late May through October.  Reservations are highly recommended and can be made at www.vineyardfastferry.com or www.rhodeislandbaycruises.com, or by calling

(401) 295-4040.

Release courtesy Rhode Island Fast Ferry.