Turning Local Frustration Into Clear Ferry Forecasts for Cape Cod & the Islands
If you live on Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod, or the Islands, you’ve asked the question:
“Is the ferry running?”
Not eventually.
Not theoretically.
Right now.
I built Is the Ferry Running? because that question affects real people every single day – residents commuting to work, families trying to get home, travelers catching flights, medical appointments, deliveries, and seasonal workers just trying to plan their week.
And yet, despite how critical ferry service is, the information around cancellations and delays is often incomplete, reactive, or unclear until it’s too late.
This project exists to fix that.
The Problem: Schedules Don’t Tell the Whole Story
Ferry operators publish schedules, alerts, and service updates – and they should. They are the official source of truth for whether a vessel ultimately sails.
But schedules don’t answer the question people actually have:
“Given the conditions today, how likely is my ferry to actually run?”
Weather offshore can differ dramatically from weather on land.
One port can be calm while another is exposed.
A ferry might run in the morning but cancel by afternoon.
Most people only find out after they’ve already committed.
That gap between published schedules and real-world conditions is where uncertainty lives — and where this project started.
Why I Decided to Build It
I live and work here.
I rely on the same ferries everyone else does.
Over time, patterns became obvious:
- Certain wind directions consistently disrupt service
- Some ports cancel more often than others under the same forecast
- Fast ferries behave differently than traditional vessels
- Conditions that “look fine” on weather apps still result in cancellations
The data already existed – it just wasn’t being connected in a way that helped people plan.
So instead of guessing, refreshing social media, or relying on last-minute alerts, I wanted a tool that could answer a simple question with clarity:
How likely is my ferry to run today?
How Is the Ferry Running? Was Built
At its core, the site is a forecasting and probability system, not a schedule replacement.
It combines:
- Historical ferry performance by route and port
- Marine weather conditions (wind, direction, seas, visibility)
- Port-specific geography and exposure
- Time-of-day and seasonal behavior patterns
Each route is evaluated in context – not in isolation.
For example:
- Woods Hole behaves differently than Hyannis
- Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs can experience very different conditions on the same day
- Nantucket service is especially sensitive to certain wind and sea combinations
- Falmouth routes often respond earlier to marginal weather due to vessel size
By weighting these factors together, the system produces clear, easy-to-understand indicators that help people anticipate disruption before it happens.
Importantly:
- The site does not override operators
- It does not claim certainty
- It exists to inform, not replace, official decisions
Operators always make the final call.
Ports Currently Covered
The site focuses on the core ferry network serving Cape Cod and the Islands, including:
- Woods Hole
- Hyannis
- Falmouth
- Vineyard Haven
- Oak Bluffs
- Nantucket
Each port has its own characteristics, challenges, and patterns – and the system treats them that way.
This port-specific approach is one of the reasons the forecasts are useful. Ferry service isn’t uniform, and neither is the weather that affects it.
What This Means for Residents
For year-round residents, ferry disruptions aren’t just an inconvenience – they’re a logistical problem.
Missed connections, lost workdays, rescheduled appointments, delayed deliveries.
Having a clearer picture of risk, not just status, helps people:
- Adjust travel times
- Choose alternate ports when possible
- Make earlier decisions instead of reacting late
Even knowing there’s a high likelihood of disruption can be valuable.
What This Means for Travelers
For visitors, uncertainty creates stress.
Islands are incredible places to visit – but ferry reliability matters when flights, hotels, and rental cars are involved.
This project gives travelers:
- Better expectations
- Fewer surprises
- More confidence when planning same-day travel
It doesn’t remove weather risk – but it makes it easier to understand.
Built Locally, For Local Use
Is the Ferry Running? was built by someone who uses the system, understands the geography, and experiences the same frustrations.
It’s not affiliated with any ferry operator.
It doesn’t sell tickets.
It doesn’t push alerts for clicks.
It exists to make ferry travel less confusing and more predictable – especially in a region where ferries are not optional.
Looking Ahead
The platform will continue to expand:
- More port-level explanations
- Clearer weather context
- Better educational resources about why cancellations happen
- Additional regions over time
But the mission stays the same:
Help people make better decisions before the weather does it for them.
If you’ve ever stood on a dock wondering whether today’s sailing will actually happen, this project was built with you in mind.
You can explore the live site at:
https://www.istheferryrunning.com
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Anything ITech MV
Building practical tools for real problems, right here on Martha’s Vineyard.
