Ferry service at risk

THE HIGH PRICE of diesel fuel could capsize efforts by state transportation officials and their private contractors to maintain current levels of water transportation service in Boston Harbor. Without state subsidies or dramatic drops in fuel costs, service between the South Shore and Logan Airport could be especially hard hit.

MBTA officials prepared a contingency plan last week to halve the 22 weekday trips between Quincy and the airport. The 8:30 p.m. run from Rowes Wharf to the Hingham shipyard - the last run of the day - is also in jeopardy. Yesterday, however, T general manager Daniel Grabauskas insisted, "There is no plan to cut ferry service." Any schedule reduction would require public hearings and a vote of the MBTA board, according to T officials.

Annual fuel costs at Water Transportation Alternatives, which runs the T's ferry service between Hull, Quincy, Boston, and Logan Airport, are more than double the cost of personnel, according to company principal Bill Walker. It's not a viable model. And unlike fuel surcharges that can be added to harbor cruises and excursion trips to offset fuel costs of $3.60 to $4.60 per gallon, the T fares are locked in. That leaves Walker wading in about $100,000 of red ink each month on the Quincy run.

New service could also be threatened. The state Seaport Advisory Council, which provides water transportation upgrades, is investing $1.7 million in a new ferry dock in Winthrop. But no boat operators submitted bids to provide service between the new dock and Boston. The council may need to switch some of its grants from waterside construction to fuel. Otherwise Boston Harbor could be dotted with docks to nowhere.