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HSC Lake Express

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lake Express at Muskegon
History
Name2004 onwards: Lake Express
Operator2004 onwards: Lake Express
Port of registry2004 onwards: Milwaukee United States
RouteMilwaukee - Muskegon
BuilderAustal USA, Mobile
Yard numberUS 614
IdentificationIMO number9329253
StatusIn service
General characteristics
Tonnage1,757 GT
Length191 ft 7 in (58.40 m)[1]
Beam57 ft 9 in (17.60 m)[1]
Draught8 ft 2 in (2.50 m) [1]
Installed power4 × MTU 16V 4000 M70 diesel engines[1]
Propulsion4 × Kamewa waterjets[1]
Speed34 kn (39 mph; 63 km/h)[1]
Capacity
  • 248 passengers
  • 44 cars & 12 motorcycles[1]

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

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The ship travels at a top speed of 34 knots (39 mph; 63 km/h)[1] and makes the 68-nautical-mile (78 mi; 126 km) 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,[1] and began service on June 1, 2004.[2] 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 auto 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.[3]

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See also

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  • SS Badger, another ferry on a more northern route across Lake Michigan

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Austal. "Austal Launches largest Vessel to date" (Press release). Austal. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  2. ^ Mulherin, Brian (June 2, 2004). "Fast, Quiet, But Not So Smooth: Lake Express Rolls into Service with Excitement". Ludington Daily News. pp. A1–A2 – via Google News.
  3. ^ Sandler, Larry (August 21, 2005). "Ferry Rescues Boater from Lake". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. pp. 1B–2B – via Google News.
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