Mackinac Island Ferry Company is the First Ferry Company in Michigan to Commit to Green Marine Certification

MACKINAW CITY, Mich., April 21, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Star Line - now known as Mackinac Island Ferry Company (MIFC) is taking its commitment to sustainability up a notch! The company joined Green Marine, an environmental certification program that encourages maritime enterprises to exceed regulatory standards and take tangible action for the preservation of our environment. CEO Jerry Fetty shared his enthusiasm: "We are proud of our commitment towards keeping the Straits of Mackinac clean and pristine" said Jerry Fetty, CEO at MIFC. He further added that this move serves as another milestone in providing a sustainable experience while preserving natural beauty along lakes and islands across Michigan shores.

MIFC is setting a powerful example of environmental responsibility by exceeding regulatory standards and taking part in the Green Marine Initiative. Most recently, their commitment was rewarded with an EGLE Fuel Transformation program grant to convert the Chippewa ferry from diesel to electric propulsion. This conversion will be completed in Michigan and will have profound positive impacts on air quality through significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions (14,152 metric tons C02e) and nitrogen oxides (887 metric tons).

MIFC continues to utilize alternative energy sources, such as offering a full Tesla supercharging station at its Mackinaw City dock, and three EV charging stations at its St Ignace Dock, while having multiple electric vehicles currently in use on the dock. In addition, they are reducing wastewater levels through the creative recycling of used boat oil and vegetable oil from Mackinac Island restaurants for heating purposes. 

"More and more ferry operators are seeking Green Marine environmental certification as a scalable, easy-to-communicate, tangible way to benchmark, improve, and showcase their sustainability commitment," said Green Marine President David Bolduc. "We're happy to welcome Mackinac Island Ferry Company among this growing membership as the first Michigan ferry operator to join our program."

MIFC proudly upholds its legacy as a leader in innovation since 1878 by pursuing Green Marine certification, which rigorously assesses the environmental performance of its ferries through key indicators such as air emissions, waste management, and ship recycling. Results are independently verified every two years with individual performance publicly reported annually - ensuring this forward-thinking company continues to protect our planet for future generations.

For more information on Star Line - now known as Mackinac Island Ferry Company, visit www.mackinacferry.com.

For more information on the Green Marine Program, visit https://green-marine.org.

For the logo click here; for ferry photos click here; for company history click here.

About Star Line - now known as Mackinac Island Ferry Company

Mackinaw City, Mich. based Mackinac Island Ferry Company. The company is best known for its high-speed Hydro-Jet® rooster tail boats, family-friendly atmosphere, and the most frequent trips to and from Mackinac Island. Their fast Hydro-Jet® ferry fleet includes the Mackinac Express catamaran, Marquette II, Radisson, Cadillac, Joliet, and LaSalle. In addition to the fast ferries their fleet also includes the pirate ship Good Fortune and five Classic ferries, the Huron, Ottawa, Chippewa, Straits of Mackinac II, and the Anna May.

Source: Mackinac Island Ferry Company