Sonny-S Boat Line operates on Saturday, 22 September 2018; however, it is the last day of operations for the 2018 season. The Sonny-S will depart Middle Bass Island at 11:30am and depart Put-in-Bay (The Boardwalk dock) at noon. Thereafter, the boat will leave Put-in-Bay at the top of the hour, with the last departure to Middle Bass Island at 9pm.
For additional information, visit www.middlebassferry.net or call 216-644-4220.
National Weather Service announced a small craft advisory in effect from 10am this morning until 6am Saturday.Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Cleveland OH 1025 AM EDT Fri Sep 21 2018 SYNOPSIS... A strong cold front over the western Great Lakes early this morning will race eastward crossing the region this afternoon into the early evening. A much cooler are of high pressure will settle over the area for the weekend. A warm front will lift across northward across Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania Late Monday into Tuesday.
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International Day of Peace (“Peace Day”) is observed around the world each year on 21 September. Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace. Perry’s Victory recognizes this event with a special program from 2pm to 3:30pm this afternoon; it will include students from Put-in-Bay School.
Great Horned Owl photo by Kathy Mock, taken at the Massie Cliffside Preserve on South Bass Island, made the Spring 2018 issue of the Ohio Cardinal magazine. Image released through courtesy of Lake Erie Islands Conservancy.
Miller Boat Line’s new ferry, M/V Mary Ann Market, is depicted below through computer-aided graphic design!
The new 140 foot long, 38.5 foot wide ferry will accommodate 26 standard sized vehicles or 600 passengers. It will join Miller’s present fleet of four passenger/vehicle ferries. Miller Ferries operate between the peninsula of Catawba to Put-in-Bay (South Bass Island), and also to Middle Bass Island, Ohio. Both islands are popular Lake Erie resorts. The M/V (Motor Vessel) Mary Ann Market will feature enhanced propulsion and maneuverability, a main deck ADA accessible passenger cabin and restroom, and a 20% increase in cargo capacity over Miller’s largest vessel. Miller Boat Line expects delivery in the fall of 2019.
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Put-in-Bay, South Bass Island, Ohio Miller Ferries to Put-in-Bay and Middle Bass Island, Ohio, has contracted with Fraser Shipyards of Superior, Wisconsin, to build a new drive-on, drive-off passenger/vehicle ferry for delivery in fall 2019. The new ferry will be delivered from Lake Superior to Lake Erie and her new home port of Put-in-Bay, Ohio. The vessel will be christened Mary Ann Market in honor of the family matriarch and the company’s late owner (1935-2010).
The new 140 foot long, 38.5 foot wide ferry will accommodate 26 standard sized vehicles or 600 passengers and will join Miller’s present fleet of four passenger/vehicle ferries. Miller Ferries operate between the peninsula of Catawba to Put-in-Bay (South Bass Island) and also to Middle Bass Island, Ohio; two of Ohio’s popular Lake Erie resort islands. The M/V (Motor Vessel) Mary Ann Market will feature enhanced propulsion and maneuverability, a main deck ADA accessible passenger cabin and restroom, and a 20% increase in cargo capacity over Miller’s largest vessel.
The vessel will be built in modules and assembled at Fraser Shipyards beginning fall 2018 and throughout 2019. Miller Boat Line President Billy Market states, “We chose Fraser due to their enduring high quality, integrity, value, and with consideration of recommendations from industry professionals, including marine surveyors, lake captains, and engineers.”
The Miller Boat Livery was founded in 1905 in the island harbor of Put-in-Bay as a water taxi, fishing charter and ice harvesting company. The company evolved under owners Lee and Mary Miller during the late 1940’s, ’50’s and ’60’s into a ferry boat line with a fleet of four passenger/vehicle ferries. William E. Market (Bill) and his wife Mary Ann, of Put-in-Bay, purchased the Miller Boat Line in 1978 from Mary Miller. The Markets chose to keep the name “Miller” in honor of the founding family. Bill Market oversaw the construction of four new ferries; the M/V Islander (built 1983), M/V South Bass (built 1989), M/V William Market (built 1993), and M/V Put-in-Bay (built 1997, lengthened 2010). These newer, larger vessels were designed to accommodate more passengers, carry longer and taller construction-type vehicles, as well as increased speed to maintain a more frequent trip schedule. During the 1980’s and ’90’s the older vessels were sold to other Great Lakes ferry companies.
Today Miller Boat Line is owned and operated by Bill and Mary Ann’s children, Julene Market, Billy Market and Scott Market. Billy and Scott Market’s children work within the company. The family states, “We look forward to welcoming the new M/V Mary Ann Market; it will be a proud and nostalgic moment to see her operate alongside the other island ferries.”
More company history, ferry, and island information can be found at MillerFerry.com.
From dry docking to making floating repairs around Lake Superior, Fraser Shipyards has built and repaired vessels for nearly 120 years. Fraser Shipyards, Superior, Wisconsin, is the last major, independent shipyard on the American side of the Great Lakes. A 60 acre facility provides building and repair berths, a joiner shop and mold loft, machine and fabricating shops, two dry docks, lay-up and fit-out berths. For more Fraser Shipyard information see FraserShipyards.com.
