Burger Boat wins order for ferry designed for tough winters
Written by Nick Blenkey
Image courtesy Seacraft Design
Burger Boat Company’s Manitowoc, Wis., shipyard has started construction of a new 92-foot vehicle/passenger ferry, the Neebish Islander III. Ordered by the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority (EUPTA), located in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., the ferry will operate year-round on the St. Mary’s River in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula between Barbeau, Mich., and Neebish Island. It has been designed to operate in the harsh winter environment and through the solid ice conditions it will encounter on its route.
Based on the experience of four previous commercial vessel designs built by this shipyard, we know that EUPTA will receive a first-class product from Burger Boat Company, and we look forward to collaborating once again,” said Mark Pudlo, president, Seacraft Design LLC., which designed the vessel.
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’re grateful to be selected by the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority to build their new vessel,” 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 Neebish Islander III will face, we are committed to delivering tailored, quality vessels that meet and exceed the owner’s vision.”
