Elliott Bay Designs New Beaver Island Ferry

EBDG wins contract to design 150-passenger ferry for service to Beaver Island, Mich.

Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) won a contract to design a new 150 ft. steel ferry for the Beaver Island Transportation Authority.  The 150-passenger, 24-vehicle ferry will be operated by the Beaver Island Boat Company and will replace a 50-year-old vessel serving the small Island in Northern Lake Michigan. The new ferry will be powered by two geared diesel engines of approximately 1,500 horsepower each with fixed pitch propellers.

“We are very lucky to have Elliott Bay on this project.  We are trying to go as green as possible with our new design by increasing fuel efficiency with a narrower beam and newer engines,” said Barbara Schwartzfisher, Executive Director of the Beaver Island Transportation Authority.  The vessel will have a design speed of 13.5 knots, a beam of 42 ft. and a hull depth of 15 ft.

In addition to reducing the service’s environmental footprint, the transportation authority is looking to design a better experience for passengers on the 2.5 hour crossing by offering Wi-Fi and making the boat quieter and more comfortable.  The design will meet accessibility guidelines for passenger vessels and feature an enclosed car deck arranged to handle loose cargo such as dry goods, groceries, and other necessities for daily life on the island.

“We are very pleased to be working with the Beaver Island Authority and the Beaver Island Boat Company on this project,” said John Waterhouse, Project Manager and Chief Concept Engineer at EBDG.  "We recognize that for island communities, ferry boats are essential lifelines and a critical part of both daily life and the tourism trade.”