The Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority, referred to colloquially as
The Steamship Authority or simply the
SSA, is the statutory regulatory body for all ferry operations to and from
the islands from the
Massachusetts mainland, as well as being an operator of ferry service from the mainland
Cape Cod to the islands of
Martha's Vineyard and
Nantucket, and the only ferry operator to carry automobiles to the island. The Authority also operates several freight vessels, thus serving as the main link for shipping any commercial goods to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket that are not transported
by air.