Star Line Ferry

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MV Mackinac Express which was bought from the Arnold Transit Company Star Line's Mackinac Island Ferry, Mackinac Express.jpg
MV Mackinac Express which was bought from the Arnold Transit Company
MV La Salle docked at Mackinac Island Mackinac Island July 2010 04 (Star Line ferry).JPG
MV La Salle docked at Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island Ferry Company (formerly Star Line) is a ferry boat company serving Mackinac Island in Michigan. The company has a dock at Mackinaw City and two at St. Ignace. [1]

Contents

History

Mackinac Island Ferry Company's Mascot "Skipper" poses with Star Line employee Star Line Hydro-Jet Mackinac Island Ferry's Mascot "Skipper" poses with Star Line employee.jpg
Mackinac Island Ferry Company's Mascot "Skipper" poses with Star Line employee

Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry Company was started by Tom Pfeiffelmann, Sam McIntire, and others in the late 1970s. The company started off previously as Argosy Boat Line. The company was named Star Line after the 5 original stockholders making up a 5 pointed star. In 1979 Star Line brought their first fast ferry, MV Marquette, to the Island. When Arnold Transit Company introduced their catamaran MV Island Express in 1987, Star Line responded with MV Radisson, an 85-foot fast ferry which was modeled after a luxury yacht. She boasted two propellers as the other ferries had, but also had twin hydro-jets for added speed. One hydro pointed out of the water making a large plume of water behind the boat. In time MV La Salle added hydro-jets. In 1990 Star Line added Cadillac and in 1993 added Joliet. These boats were built in the style of MV Radisson. In 2005 the Star Line added MV Marquette II.

In November 2016, Star Line purchased the majority of competitor Arnold Transit Company's assets, assuming the almost 140 years of its history and combining it with that of Star Line's existing fleet. This acquisition made Star Line Mackinac Island's oldest and largest ferry fleet.

Star Line also operates a pleasure cruise on Friday and Saturday evenings from Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, respectively, during the summer months.

In 2019, Star Line added MV Good Fortune pirate ship and offers trips to Mackinac Island as well as daily cruises aboard it during the summer months.

Beginning with the 2022 season, Star Line began the process of changing its name to "Mackinac Island Ferry Company," including both the new name and the existing Star Line logo together. For 2023, the company chose to emphasize their new name, only including "Formerly Star Line" in smaller text alongside its logo. [2]

In June 2024, the company was purchased by Hoffman Family of Companies. [3]

Fleet

MV Marquette II Hydro-Jet fast ferry leaving the Mackinaw City Dock for Mackinac Island Photo of the Star Line Mackinac Island Hydro-Jet Ferry Marquette II leaving the Mackinaw City Dock.jpg
MV Marquette II Hydro-Jet fast ferry leaving the Mackinaw City Dock for Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island Ferry Company has the largest fast ferry fleet in Michigan with six hydro-jet ferries: MV La Salle, MV Radisson, MV Cadillac, MV Joliet, and MV Marquette II. They also own classic ferries MV Anna May, some of the former Arnold Transit Company classic ferries MV Huron, MV Ottawa, Chippewa, MV Straits of Mackinac II, MV Mackinac Express a high-speed water-jet–powered catamaran ferry service passenger service and the only pirate ship on the currently on the Great Lakes MV Good Fortune.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mackinac County, Michigan</span> County in Michigan, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Ignace, Michigan</span> City in Michigan, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arnold Transit Company</span>

Arnold Transit Company was a ferry boat company serving Mackinac Island in Michigan for 140 years. In late 2016 Arnold Line's Assets including the boats, docks along with its name were purchased by Star Line Ferry, who continues to operate it today.

The Detroit, Mackinac and Marquette Railroad was a land grant railroad that was built and operated briefly (1881–1886) in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. Incorporated in 1879, the 151.9-mile (244.5 km)-long railroad began operations in 1881. It was intended to help the economic development of a region of frontier timberland along the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. Its successor line was the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway.

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Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry is one of two ferry companies serving Mackinac Island, Michigan. The company has docks in Mackinaw City and St. Ignace. Shepler's provides ferry and freight service to Mackinac Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferries in Michigan</span>

Due to its unique geography, being made of two peninsulas surrounded by the Great Lakes, Michigan has depended on many ferries for connections to transport people, vehicles and trade. The most famous modern ferries are those which carry people and goods across the Straits of Mackinac to the car-free Mackinac Island but before the Mackinac Bridge was built, large numbers of ferries carried people and cars between the two peninsulas. Other ferries continue to provide transportation to small islands and across the Detroit River to Canada. Ferries once provided transport to island parks for city dwellers. The state's only national park, Isle Royale cannot be reached by road and is normally accessed by ferry. The largest ferries in Michigan are the car ferries which cross Lake Michigan to Wisconsin. One of these, the SS Badger is one of the last remaining coal steamers on the Great Lakes and serves as a section of US Highway 10 (US 10). The Badger is also the largest ferry in Michigan, capable of carrying 600 passengers and 180 autos.

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East Moran Bay is a small, historic harbor in the Straits of Mackinac adjacent to the city of St. Ignace in the U.S. state of Michigan. The harbor is used as a commercial port for Star Line Ferry and Shepler's Ferry ferry boats from St. Ignace to Mackinac Island, a tourist center of the Straits of Mackinac. The bay and its harbor are guarded by the Wawatam Lighthouse.

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References

  1. 2019 Star Line Ferry Schedule
  2. "As 2022 Ferry Season to Mackinac Island Opens, Star Line Mackinac Island Hydro-Jet Ferry Announces New Name: Mackinac Island Ferry Company" (Press release).
  3. Wall Howard, Phoebe (June 29, 2024). "Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry Co. sells to Florida billionaire". Detroit Free Press.