True North Initiative
The Steamship Authority is partnering with E-Dea SPA of Napoli, Italy, to implement a new, modern reservation system for the Steamship Authority. In June 2025, the Steamship Authority Board chose E-Dea SPA of Napoli, Italy, as the vendor for the replacement of the Authority’s reservation system. E-Dea is a worldwide leader in these systems, and some ferry clients currently using their systems are BC Ferries of British Columbia Canada, Caledonian MacGrayne (CALMAC) of Scotland, United Kingdom, Color Line of Norway, and Searoad Ferries of Australia. In 2024, E-Dea’s clients managed 49 million passengers and 18 million vehicles.
Upcoming dates
True North Virtual Information Session
Topic: Wait list and standby
When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, and Thursday, Feb. 12
Where: Via Zoom. Click here to join at the meeting time.
Frequently-asked questions
Why do we need a new reservation system?
In a 2023 review of the Authority's technological systems, replacing the reservation system was identified as the top priority for the SSA. The current system is built in a programming language that is no longer commonly used and requires significant resources and manual adjustments to maintain functionality. That puts the Authority—and its customers—at significant risk of a disruption to this critical system.
Although continuing to maintain the current system or building a new custom system were presented as options, the Board directed staff to pursue an off-the-shelf system to increase the robustness and functionality of the reservation system and to implement the system within one year of the contract award.
Following the issuance of a Request for Responses, the Board voted to award the contract for a new reservation system to E-Dea in June 2025.
What isn't changing?
We will still help island residents get to their medical appointments, spaces will still be set aside for last-minute travel needs, and our terminal personnel will still do their usual good work to accommodate those emergencies that can't be planned for and need immediate attention.
In short, our commitment to being the Lifeline to the Islands isn't changing, and our ability to provide those vital services will be stronger thanks to this new reservation system.
What will be the benefits?
The new reservation system will be an off-the-shelf product that is maintained by a large software company that works with multiple ferry companies across the world. This will give the reservation system greater security, better maintenance, and an overall more robust platform for our customers than the current system.
Specific improvements include:
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Accounts will be managed through emails, so no more account numbers to remember or duplicate accounts.
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Commercial freight customers will have a designated portal for their unique needs.
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The new system will have robust notification functionality with text and email options.
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Enrollment in special programs (such as the Excursion and Preferred programs) will now be done totally online by uploading the necessary documents to your account. You'll be able to see the status of the review—no guessing about whether your mail was received or if the renewal is complete.
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Customers on our Hyannis-Nantucket route can book drive-on/drive-off services online and agree to the program policies.
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The SSA will book vehicle reservations based on linear feet, the standard measure for ferry companies, and not car-equivalent units (i.e. a vehicle under 17 feet, or a vehicle 17-20 feet). This is a more accurate measurement and will better reflect the true space available to book.
What will be the drawbacks?
While the E-Dea system is extremely robust and is used by ferry services worldwide, aspects of the SSA's current operations do not fit into this system. The SSA is evaluating its current policies and, as necessary and with feedback from our customers, will modify them to fit the functionality of the E-Dea system.
What is happening to the current standby program?
On the Hyannis-Nantucket run, you will need a reservation in the next few days in order to leave your car for the drive-on/drive-off service (similar to how it works in the summer). On the Woods Hole-Martha's Vineyard run, we are exploring how the Blue Line or a replacement program for Excursion and Preferred customers could work in the new system.
New terminology for the new system
The E-Dea system comes with standby and wait list features, but the terms don't line up with the Steamship Authority's current usage and we're unable to modify those names. We know it will take some getting used to, but we feel confident these configurations will give you a better overall experience under the new system.
Wait list
When do I use it? When you have a reservation but want to improve your sailing time, you can join the wait list for specific trips during the day. You can decide when to "drop off" a wait list and proceed with your originally booked reservation.
What's changing? The available wait list times will be close to your booked time. You will be able to join the wait list for specific trips before or after your reserved trip.
Standby
When do I use it? If you want to travel on a specific day and you do not have a reservation, you can attempt to travel on a space-available basis by purchasing a standby ticket for a specific trip.
What's changing? You will buy a standby ticket for the day you wish to travel. You can also add a wait list request to a standby ticket, meaning that—similar to the current system—you can be in the queue for multiple trips on the day you wish to travel. This can be in addition to, or instead of, buying a ticket for a less-desirable day of travel, but that booked reservation will not be changed to a new date based on your wait list preferences.
Project resources
News releases
Second series of open houses scheduled for True North reservation system project