Star Line Ferry
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Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry Service is a ferry boat company serving Mackinac Island in Michigan. The company has a dock at Mackinaw City and two at St. Ignace.[1]
History[]
Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry Service 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. They operated slower ferries including the La Salle and Nicolet as well as the Treasure Islander and Flamingo. In 1979 Star Line brought their first fast ferry, Marquette, to the Island. Over the next few years the old La Salle and Nicolet were replaced with sisters to the Marquette. When Arnold Transit Company introduced their catamaran Island Express in 1987, Star Line responded with 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 an incredible plume of water behind the boat. In time the La Salle, Nicolet, and Marquette added hydro-jets. In 1990 Star Line added Cadillac and in 1993 added Joliet. These boats were built in the style of the Radisson. In 2005, Marquette was sold to Davis Park Marine of Patchogue, NY. She was replaced by the larger Marquette II. And in 2006, Nicolet was sold to Davis Park Marine.
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 the "Good Fortune" Pirate ship and offers trips to Mackinac Island as well as daily cruises aboard it during the summer months.
Fleet[]
Star Line has the largest fast ferry fleet in Michigan with six hydro-jet ferries: La Salle, Radisson, Cadillac, Joliet, Marquette II, and Mackinac Express Catamaran. In addition, they also own the freight boat Anna May, work boat Rose Mary and former Arnold Transit Company's classic ferries Huron, Ottawa, Chippewa, Straits of Mackinac II and the only pirate ship on the currently on the great lakes "Good Fortune".
References[]
- ^ http://www.mackinawinfo.com/star-line-ferry-schedule/, 2019 Star Line Ferry Schedule
External links[]
- Ferry companies of Michigan
- Mackinac Island
- Transportation in Cheboygan County, Michigan
- Transportation in Mackinac County, Michigan