The MBTA has temporarily altered the Lynn ferry service schedule due to the presence of right whales in Broad Sound, which lies between Lynn and Boston.
Effective Thursday, ferries will operate at reduced speeds until Tuesday, April 29, as stated by the MBTA in an alert on its website.
Delays are expected, and some ferry trips between Lynn and Boston may be canceled.
These trips will now take approximately 90 minutes, significantly longer than the typical 40-minute travel time for the ferries, according to a statement from the MBTA released on Wednesday.
All vessels in Broad Sound are mandated to adhere to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s guidance, which calls for a speed reduction to 10 knots to protect the whales in the area, as noted by the MBTA.
Currently, this schedule change specifically affects the Lynn ferry route, the transportation agency confirmed.
This action is being taken in coordination with federal environmental protections, specifically the recently implemented right whale “Dynamic Management Area” in Broad Sound, which is the main route for the Lynn ferry, according to the MBTA’s statement.
“Right whales have recently been sighted in Broad Sound,” the statement explained.
The MBTA, along with Boston Harbor City Cruises, is implementing these changes out of an abundance of caution and a sense of environmental responsibility.
Inbound trips from Lynn will now depart at 7:30 a.m., arriving at Long Wharf at 8:55 a.m.
Another service will leave Lynn at 10:45 a.m. and arrive at Long Wharf at 12:15 p.m.
Meanwhile, outbound trips from Boston will depart at 5:45 p.m., arriving in Lynn at 7:15 p.m.
The ferry service may require further updates as the MBTA continues to monitor updates from NOAA.
Being struck by boats and ships is the leading cause of mortality for right whales, as reported by NOAA.
These whales typically swim at or just beneath the water’s surface, making them vulnerable to fast-moving vessels in the area.
By slowing down vessel speeds, the risk of accidental strikes is significantly reduced.
Recently, a few right whales have been sighted along the Massachusetts coast.
A mother and her calf were observed in Cape Cod Bay, according to a Facebook post from the Center for Coastal Studies dated April 14.
Last Thursday, the Center’s Marine Animal Entanglement Response team worked to disentangle a five-year-old male right whale that was caught in several ropes and buoys around its upper jaw, the group indicated in a statement on Tuesday.
The whale had been entangled since December 2024.
While the team successfully removed some of the fishing gear, they encountered difficulties during subsequent attempts to approach the animal, according to the Center for Coastal Studies.
This entanglement could prove lethal for the whale.
“This will be a particularly challenging case to solve,” said rescue team Director Scott Landry in the statement.
“While there may be enough entangling gear on the whale to kill him over the long term, there is not enough gear for us to use techniques we would normally use.”
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