Boatnerd News – July 24, 2025

July 24, 2025

Arnold Transit brings Mackinac Island ferry with historic name back on the water

MACKINAC ISLAND, MI – A piece of Mackinac Island summer nostalgia is back to making waves. After a big mechanical overhaul – and a glow-up – Arnold Transit Company announced this month that its LaSalle ferry is back in service.

The LaSalle was built in 1983, but its moniker traces back centuries in the Straits of Mackinac. The ferry was named for the French explorer Rene-Robert Sieur de La Salle, who plied the same waters aboard The Griffin in 1679. The Griffin was known as the first European-style ship to sail the Great Lakes – and has become the holy grail for shipwreck hunters after it disappeared with its crew and a small fortune in furs.

Since Arnold Transit was purchased last summer by Hoffmann Marine, an arm of the Hoffmann Family of Companies, several of the ferries have undergone mechanical upgrades and renovation.

The LaSalle can carry up to 150 passengers per trip.

The recent improvements include:
New fuel-efficient engines
Rebuilt transmission system
Upgraded control system
New windows
Freshly sandblasted and repainted hull
All-new passenger seating
Enhanced LED navigation lights

“These enhancements are part of a broader initiative to modernize Arnold’s iconic fleet while preserving the charm and history that define our service,” staff said.

Other Arnold Transit Company vessels are also being upgraded. A recent report to the Mackinac Island City Council showed these other boats are being worked on:

The Huron, the fleet’s winter ferry with an icebreaking hull, is slated to be finished by Labor Day. The Mackinac Express should be done soon and stationed in Mackinaw City.
The Ottawa is awaiting generator work.
Read more here: https://www.mlive.com/life/2025/07/arnold-transit-brings-mackinac-island-ferry-with-historic-name-back-on-the-water.html

Coast Guard: 2 people rescued after construction barge capsizes in Lake Erie

ROCKY RIVER, Ohio – The U.S. Coast Guard says two people were rescued after a construction barge overturned and capsized in the waters of Lake Erie near Rocky River Park on Tuesday.

Military officials tell 3News that Rocky River police were the first to respond to the area, with Coast Guard crews from Cleveland coming in to assist.

The two rescued individuals were pulled from the lake and taken safely to shore.

Neither was injured, and following a search of the water, the Coast Guard confirmed everyone on the boat was accounted for. An investigation into the sinking is underway.

Officials also say at least three 55-gallon drums of oil fell into the lake from the barge and left behind an oil sheen in the water. The exact amount of oil spilled into the lake is not known.

WKYC

ISMA Grand Lodge Convention Jan. 28-Feb. 1 in Duluth

The 2026 International Ship Masters’ Association Grand Lodge Convention will be held in Duluth, MN, from Wednesday, January 28 through Sunday, February 1. The convention is being hosted by Twin Ports Lodge # 12.

Lodge # 12 has announced that sponsorships and convention book advertising are now open. For more info about sponsoring or advertising, please visit their website at https://ismalodge12.com

Twin Ports Lodge # 12.

Tickets On Sale for MHSD Detroit River Cruise

Join members of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit aboard the passenger vessel Diamond Belle for a three-hour cruise from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, September 14, on the Detroit River.

We will do our best to get up close to freighter traffic. Snacks and refreshments will be available on the boat, which leaves from the Cullen Plaza at the foot of Rivard Street (1340 Atwater St.) Detroit.There is parking at Cullen Plaza (which often fills up early) and there is street and garage parking nearby.

Tickets are $28.50 (at the dock $30 cash or check only if space is still available). To buy tickets by mail, send a check, payable to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to MHSD Cruise, 1020 Iroquois St., Detroit, MI 48214. Late orders will not be mailed; they will be held for you at the dock. To pay by credit or debit card, go to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6672663.

No refunds after September 7. We are limiting the number to 100 passengers so there will be plenty of room to move about the boat. Reserve now!

Marine Historical Society of Detroit