MACKINAC ISLAND, MI – In an unprecedented move, Shepler’s Ferry Service will be the only boat fleet transporting people to and from Mackinac Island beginning Monday, Aug. 19, for the remainder of the summer and fall seasons.

The Mackinac Island City Council voted at a special meeting Wednesday to allow the region’s other ferry operator, the troubled Mackinac Island Ferry Company (MIFC), to suspend its passenger ferry service through Oct. 31 due to several serious mechanical problems with its fleet of vessels.

For travelers, this means that starting August 19, only Shepler’s Ferry Service will operate daily passenger boats between the island and the docks in St. Ignace and Mackinaw City.

Shepler’s Ferry tickets can be purchased online here or at Shepler’s Docks. Ticket prices are set by the island and remain unchanged.

In response, Shepler officials have created a schedule designed to maximize the number of available passenger trips for the remainder of the tourist season. They are looking into rotating boats to allow departures from Shepler’s docks every 15 to 30 minutes during peak periods.

Under this agreement, Shepler’s will accept all valid MIFC ferry tickets purchased in advance and may also transport passengers parking in MIFC parking lots to Shepler’s berths.

“I think we’re all very concerned about change, but we’ve seen change on Mackinac Island before,” said longtime Mayor Margaret Doud at the start of the meeting. “There will be some obstacles … but we’ll get through it. Mackinac will be just as good as it is today, if not better.”

It’s an unusual situation because both ferry companies, which have franchise agreements with Mackinac Island – which sets all prices and rules – are now owned by the Hoffmann Family of Companies, a private equity firm based in Florida. Hoffman bought Shepler’s in 2022 and bought MIFC in June. Shortly after the MIFC purchase, Chris Shepler was hired to oversee the day-to-day operations of both companies, which continued to operate as separate ferry services. The companies have separate docks and boat fleets.

In recent weeks, the majority of MIFC’s boats have been pulled from the water and/or decommissioned due to multi-million dollar repairs and long-overdue maintenance issues that came to light following the company’s sale to Hoffmann in late June.

Today’s vote came two days after Hoffmann asked the city to shut down MIFC ferry service for the remainder of the summer and fall seasons due to ongoing problems with the boats. The special meeting drew large crowds both in person and online, with the meeting’s Zoom capacity expanded to up to 500 people.

During the two-hour meeting, city officials and residents asked questions about parking regulations, the acceptance of MIFC ferry passes for residents and commuters, and the cost of transporting residents’ groceries and horses. All questions related to bringing tourists to the island appeared to have been answered to the satisfaction of the city council.

The City Council has unanimously voted to approve an addendum to the Ferry Concession Agreement, which stipulates the temporary suspension of ferry passenger service provided by MIFC from August 19 to October 31. The items addressed in this agreement include, but are not limited to:

• All MIFC docks will be closed to passenger ferry traffic
• All ferry passengers are handled through Shepler Ferry Service.
• All valid pre-paid MIFC ferry tickets and parking passes are accepted at Shepler’s.
• The only thing that will not be available is the valet parking service that was offered through MIFC.
• All traffic on the MIFC Ferries website will be redirected to the Shepler website.
• Food deliveries for islanders are free
• Shepler’s will comply with MIFC rates for small cargo
• Horses can be transported to and from the island on either the MIFC’s Anna May or an Arnold Freight boat, adhering to the MIFC’s fare structure.

Questions about winter boat service are still being worked out. MIFC’s The Mighty Huron is normally the only ferry that runs to and from the island during the winter season. Right now, the Huron needs repairs, and Chris Shepler said his team is assessing that and in discussions with the U.S. Coast Guard, which conducts ferry inspections. There are backup plans in place in case the Huron is not ready when the winter season begins, Shepler told council earlier this week.

The break for MIFC gives Hoffmann much-needed time to source the necessary parts or arrange repairs to the ferries. This includes MIFC’s fast “hydro-jet” ferries, which spray MIFC’s trademark rooster-tail-shaped jet of water behind them.

Since the sale, all of MIFC’s speedboats have been taken out of service due to maintenance issues. As of late last week, no MIFC ferries were leaving the docks in St. Ignace, and only three “classic” ferries, or slow boats, were leaving the docks in Mackinaw City.

The stopgap measures that were in place under the old company will not be continued, Shepler told the council earlier this week. And MIFC boats will not be put back on the water until they are 100% operational, he said.

As for MIFC employees, Jenny Gezella, president of Hoffmann Marine, told the city council earlier this week that no one will lose their job as a result of the suspension of MIFC ferry services.

“No matter what happens, our employees are vital to us,” Gezella said Monday. “Nobody is losing their job.” All year-round employees will stay, as will all seasonal workers until the end of their contracts. Bonuses earned during this difficult season will be paid out, she said.