Plan for new Beaver Island ferry gets boost with $6.6M federal grant

CHARLEVOIX, MI – A new Beaver Island passenger ferry is much closer to becoming a reality after the project received a $6.6 million federal grant, which was announced Thursday.

The grant will be added to a $14 million commitment from the state and should mean that the resources are now in place to move forward with building a new vessel that is “more efficient, reliable and environmentally friendly,” according to a joint news release from Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters.

Plans to build a new ferry in the next three to five years were announced in August. At the time, the cost was estimated at $17.5 million, but it was early in the design process. The federal grant is also expected to support dock upgrades.

Beaver Island, which is about 32 miles west of Charlevoix, is the largest island in Lake Michigan. It’s home to about 600 year-round residents. A popular summer destination, it has multiple lighthouses, two nature preserves, a state forest campground and more to discover.

“The ferry system is essential for transporting residents, seasonal visitors, tourists, vehicles, and freight – all of which are necessary for the community and economy. The existing ferries are showing their age and the Island is grateful for this opportunity,” said Mary Cook, Executive Director of the Beaver Island Transportation Authority.

Reservations for the 2023 ferrying season opened on Monday and 544 reservations were made that day, the Beaver Island Boat Company said on Facebook.

Currently, Beaver Island Boat Company operates two ferries: The Beaver Islander, built in 1962; and the Emerald Isle, built in 1997.

The Emerald Isle is owned by Beaver Island Transportation Authority and operated through a public-private partnership; the new vessel will likely operate under a similar agreement. The Beaver Islander is owned by the ferry company and will likely retire from the island route when the new vessel becomes operational.

The grant funding is through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Ferry Service Rural Communities Program, which was established by the 2022 infrastructure law.