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Mass. Inspector General: Steamship Authority Wasted Millions on Failed Website

The watchdog urges a legislative review to strengthen oversight of the ferry agency.

Overview

  • The report finds a 2022 website overhaul wasted at least $2 million and could exceed $4 million before the effort was abandoned.
  • Investigators faulted a focus on the public website over the back-end reservation system, calling the project “doomed from the start.”
  • The board “exercised virtually no meaningful oversight,” and the general manager failed to assign qualified leadership or keep governors fully informed.
  • The ferry line’s aging, custom reservation system dates to 1996 and relies on its original developer, highlighting an operational risk the report says was ignored.
  • The Steamship Authority says it is reviewing the findings as the OIG urges reforms, questions retaining outgoing GM Bob Davis as a paid advisor, and notes incoming GM Alex Kryska begins in January 2026.