Hy-Line Cruises
 | |
| Company type | Family owned private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Ferries, Sightseeing tours, Fishing charters |
| Founded | 1962 (Hyannis Harbor Tours), 1972 (Hy-Line) |
| Headquarters | Hyannis, Massachusetts |
Key people | Richard Scudder, and the Scudder Family |
Number of employees | 100 (year-round), 350 (summer) |
| Website | Official website |
Hy-Line Cruises (colloquially referred to as Hy-Line, and legally Hyannis Harbor Tours Inc.) is a family owned and operated Massachusetts ferry and cruise company.[1] The company currently operates the second largest passenger ferry service between mainland Cape Cod and the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket (after the Steamship Authority).[2] The company also operates sightseeing cruises and fishing charters. The company's main office is located at 22 Channel Point Road in Hyannis.
History
Hy-Line Cruises began operations in 1962 as Hyannis Harbor Tours run by Richard Scudder and his brother Robert. Originally, the company focused on sightseeing harbor tours, which it still does today. The company adding deep sea fishing charters in 1966, and started running seasonal passenger ferry services in 1970, first to Martha's Vineyard, and then to Nantucket in 1972 when Hyannis Harbor Tours bought out The Nantucket Boat Company which at that time was doing business as Hi-line. Hyannis Harbor Tours took this trade name and changed it to Hy-Line.[3]
In 1996, Hy-Line Cruises started the first high-speed catamaran service to Nantucket (several years before the Steamship Authority started its catamaran service).
In 2003, the company added a second catamaran, the Grey Lady to the fleet for a one-hour seasonal service to Martha's Vineyard the second of the three built for the Nantucket route. Another high-speed catamaran, intended to replace the company's slower monohull vessel on the route to Nantucket, is under construction, with entry into service planned for 2016.[4]
Current operations
Island Ferry Service
Hy-Line Cruises operates a high-speed catamaran ferry between Hyannis and Nantucket (year-round) and Hyannis and Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard (seasonally). The journey time is approximately one hour.
During Cape Cod's tourist season (May thru October), Hy-Line Cruises operates "traditional" ferry service that caters primarily to tourists, sailing to both islands from Hyannis. The company also operates inter-island trips between Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.
All of Hy-Line Cruises' ferry services are passenger only (although bicycles are carried) due to the legal monopoly held on vehicle ferry service that is held by the Steamship Authority.[5]
In the Summer 2016 season, Hy-Line will operate two high-speed vessels to both islands while ending traditional service and retiring its traditional ferries.[6]
Sightseeing Cruises
Hy-Line Cruises also operates seasonal sightseeing cruises in and around Hyannis Harbor, and the Cape Cod Canal, (the latter sailing from the Wareham village of Onset).
Fishing Charters
Out of Hyannis, Hy-Line operates seasonal half-day deep sea fishing trips in Nantucket Sound.
See also
External links
References
- ^ Hyannis Area Chamber of Commerce Hy-Line Cruises
- ^ MassDOT Office of Transportation Planning (October 2012). Passenger Ferry Transportation in Massachusetts (PDF). Retrieved March 16, 2013.
- ^ "Hy-Line Cruises - About Us web page". Hy-Line Cruises. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
- ^ "Hy-Line to Go High-Speed Only on Routes to Nantucket". CapeCod.com. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
- ^ "About the Steamship Authority". The Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
- ^ "Nantucket Ferry | Fast Ferry to Nantucket | Traditional Ferry to Nantucket". Hy-Line Cruises. Retrieved 2016-02-04.