Mackinac Island Ferry Goes Adrift After Steering Loss

[Sherman A1]

Passengers were removed from a Mackinac Island ferry that suffered mechanical issues and went adrift in the Straits of Mackinac on Tuesday.

The Star Line winter service ferry Huron had 144 passengers and four crewmembers on board when it lost steering at about 6 p.m. while on its way from Mackinac Island to St. Ignace, Mich., the U.S. Coast Guard said.

Unable to deploy its anchor due to a possible mechanical or weather-related issue, the 1950s-built vessel drifted slowly in open water toward St. Ignace, but was not in distress nor in danger of grounding, according to the Coast Guard.

A local commercial vessel that also serves Mackinac Island, Arnold Freight Line's Senator, responded and met the disabled ferry, taking all of its passengers aboard and transporting them to St. Ignace.

The four Huron crewmembers remained on board their vessel awaiting a tow from Coast Guard Cutter Katmai Bay, which was breaking ice in the area and diverted to tow the stricken vessel to St. Ignace.

https://www.marinelink.com/news/mackinac-island-ferry-goes-adrift-495611

[multigraincracker]

1. Lots of current going thru those straits.

Years ago the family were out on a fishing charter in Northern Lake Michigan when the steering cable broke. Pretty good captain on board. He had dual engines and use the two throttles to steer up back to port in 6 foot seas.

[PJMcK]

2. Steering mechanisms can be tricky on boats and ships

There are generally a lot of moving parts to a boat's or ship's steering system. There are several critical mechanical links that translate the movement of the steering wheel to the rudder. If any one of those parts fails, the vessel will need to improvise a solution or call for assistance.

Most sailboats with a steering wheel have access to the linkages, (gears, chains and cables), as well as an emergency tiller connection. Motor vessels with dual propellers can use them to steer the craft. Actually, airplane pilots have done the same thing when they have two or more engines and the hydraulic steering fails. Single prop motor boats don't have that option.

On sailboats, I prefer a tiller because it has a direct connection to the rudder. There are less parts that could fail. Bigger vessels are another story.