Burger Boat delivers vehicle ferry to Michigan operator

Neebish Islander III entered service earlier this year in Sault St. Marie, Mich. Burger Boat Co. photo

Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. — Burger Boat Company delivered the vehicle ferry Neebish Islander III to the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority (EUPTA), located in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

The 92-foot U.S.-made steel ferry will operate year-round on the St. Mary’s River in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula between Barbeau, Mich., and Neebish Island. The ferry was designed to operate in the harsh winter environment and through the solid ice conditions it will encounter on its route. The ferry was designed by Seacraft Design of Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

The vessel was delivered to EUPTA on October 30, 2022, and entered into service on November 9, 2022

The Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority, established in 1975, operates three local vehicle and passenger ferries to the nearby islands of Sugar, Neebish, and Drummond.

“We are proud of the ferry we built for the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority,” said Jim Ruffolo, President and CEO, Burger Boat Company. “At Burger, our team prizes collaboration, among each other and with our clients, to deliver vessels people can look upon with pride, year after year.

“Whether it’s a luxury yacht or a hard-working ferry for demanding conditions like those the Needish Islander III will face, we are committed to delivering tailored, quality vessels that meet and exceed the owner’s vision,” Ruffolo continued.

The 92-foot steel ferry will operate year-round in the St. Marys River, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Photo by Burger Boat Co.

Burger’s extensive knowledge of the design and construction process, along with its metal, mechanical, electrical, and joinery capabilities, deliver the resources required to construct quality commercial vessels that will provide years of dependable service.

With its in-house design team and skilled craftsman, Burger provides the shipbuilding expertise required to tailor every project to meet the clients’ requirements. Burger has a rich history of building commercial vessels, with hundreds of successful projects including fishing boats, tow boats, patrol craft, passenger vessels, ferries, research vessels, and naval craft.

— Burger Boat Co.

By Casey Conley