Neebish Island ferry runs a limited schedule for about two weeks after dense fog leaves it with one rudder

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — The car ferry that links Neebish Island to the mainland is running on a reduced, daylight-only schedule after it lost one of its two rudders in dense fog on Tuesday morning, Oct. 20, and the transportation authority that runs it expects the limits to last about two weeks.

The Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority, which is based in Sault Ste. Marie, said the Neebish Islander III ran into the fog early that morning. The incident sheared a rudder shaft and cost the boat one rudder. The U.S. Coast Guard gave the ferry permission to keep running on the remaining rudder, but only under special conditions, according to the authority’s Oct. 20 notice.

Those conditions change how islanders get to work, school and appointments on the mainland. Here is how the ferry is running for now, according to the notice:

Morning and evening runs only. A set of back-to-back trips off the island is set to start around 7:30 a.m. and run until the waiting line is cleared. A matching set of return trips is set to start around 6 p.m. Both depend on fog and visibility, and the authority called the times tentative.

Passenger vehicles only, eight per trip. No trailers, no oversize loads and no excessively heavy vehicles. Every vehicle has to back off the boat when it unloads, because steering on one rudder rules out the usual drive-off.

Good weather and daylight only. Service stops in bad weather. The ferry needs little or no fog, good visibility, sustained winds under 20 mph and gusts under 25 mph, and it will not run after dark.

Riders take on the risk. The authority said that because of the unusual unloading, customers travel “at their OWN RISK of vehicle damage” and that it “will not be entertaining any damage claims during this time.”

The Coast Guard did allow emergency runs outside those limits. The authority said the special conditions should last about two weeks while it schedules, coordinates and makes repairs.

What this means for you. If you live on the island or head there for work, plan your day around one trip out and one trip back, and leave the trailer, boat or big load on whichever side you need it until the repair is done. Shorter fall days and Upper Peninsula weather can shrink the window further: on a foggy or windy day, the ferry may not run at all. Hunters and camp owners eyeing the Nov. 15 firearm deer opener should check for updates before hauling gear. The authority has not said what the repair will cost or given an exact return date.

Updates are posted on the authority’s delays and cancellations page and the Neebish Island Ferry Facebook page. The delays and cancellations hotline is 906-632-1516, and the authority’s office is at 906-632-2898.

Sources:
Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority, “EUPTA Operations – Neebish Island Ferry” press release, Oct. 20, 2026 (damage, Coast Guard conditions, schedule, two-week estimate, quotes, phone numbers), https://www.eupta.net/wp-content/media/Neebish-Island-Ferry-Service-Disruption-Press-Release-10.20.2026.pdf
Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority, “EUPTA Delays and Cancellations” (status page), https://www.eupta.net/ferry-system/eupta-delays-and-cancellations/
9&10 News, “Neebish Islander III limits schedule following severe fog damage,” Oct. 20, 2026, https://www.9and10news.com/2026/10/20/neebish-islander-iii-limits-schedule-following-severe-fog-damage/
Photo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sugar_Islander_II.jpg

Sault Ste. Marie

Tags: Sault Ste. Marie · Neebish Island · Ferry · EUPTA · Chippewa County · Travel Alerts