Lake Express

"Lake Express" is a high-speed auto and passenger ferry that is in service on a route across Lake Michigan. "Lake Express" links the cities of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Muskegon, Michigan from late spring to the fall of each year.

Background

The ship travels at a top speed of 40 miles per hour (34 knots) and makes the 68 nautical mile trip three times daily from each side of the lake during the peak of its operational schedule. "Lake Express" is able to cross the lake in two and a half hours. It was constructed by Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama, and began service on June 1, 2004. It was one of the first high-speed catamaran-style auto/passenger ferries built in the United States. It was also the first high-speed car ferry to see service on the Great Lakes, beating out the "Spirit of Ontario I", which was beset by a series of last-minute delays, by one month.

On August 21, 2005, the ferry rescued a man whose boat had capsized in the middle of Lake Michigan. [ [http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/aug05/349980.asp "Ferry rescues boater from lake"] , "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel", August 21, 2005]

Dimensions

ee also

*S.S. "Badger", another ferry on a nearby route
*Sen. John Kerry on the "Lake Express", during his presidential campaign

References

External links

* [http://www.lake-express.com Official site]
* [http://austal.com/index.cfm?objectid=44CA0580-A0CC-3C8C-D93C3EEAC292BAC0 Press Release] from Austal USA announcing "Lake Express" completion
* [http://www.mlive.com/muchronicle/ferry/ Coverage of the ferry] by the "Muskegon Chronicle"