Another cross-lake fast ferry on the Great Lakes...
5/20
The fast ferry Lake Express arrived at Milwaukee's breakwall shortly after 3:30 Tuesday. On hand to greet the ferry were assorted tugs, including the G-tug Virginia, pleasure craft and government vessels. The Lake Express made a short tour of the outer harbor off downtown Milwaukee and then proceeded to the Port of Milwaukee's Heavy Lift dock.
With the new ferry dock not quite finished, the Lake Express will use the Heavy Lift dock as a base of operations for additional crew training. Trips on Lake Michigan are also planned and a trip to Muskegon is expected as well.
(The new privately owned ferry, built in Alabama for $18.5 million, will carry 250 people and 45 cars on the Milwaukee-Muskegon run across Lake Michigan three times daily. The distance is similar to the proposed Cleveland-to Port Stanley route. For more see the operator's page here.)
And...
Lightning Strikes Tall Ship Denis Sullivan
05/19
The Tall Ship Denis Sullivan, enroute to Milwaukee, Wis., from Erie, Penn., was struck by lightning Tuesday night in a storm north of Mentor, Ohio. While none of the crew was harmed, the electronic systems failed making it difficult to navigate. Fortunately, one of the mates had a hand-held GPS and managed to make it to Cleveland's North Coast Harbor.
S.S. William G. Mather Museum operations manager and live-in ship keeper, Bill McDonald, offered assistance when he discovered his new neighbor moored next to him at the end of East Ninth Street Pier. The Sullivan crew was appreciative of Cleveland hospitality, including hot showers and cold beverages.
The Sullivan last visited Cleveland during 2003's Tall Ships Harborfest. The S/V Denis Sullivan is Wisconsin's Floating Classroom and Ambassador Flagship. Some proponents of Cleveland's lakefront development suggest that Cleveland might also benefit from a similar tall ship vessel with Cleveland's North Coast Harbor as her home port.
While taking a tour of the Mather Museum Tuesday afternoon, the crew of the Sullivan said they would know within the next few hours if they have sufficient repairs to resume their journey. With thunderstorms anticipated through the rest of the week, they do not want lightning to strike twice.