AARR wrote:What are your ferry operations like in Frankfort?
Ahh yes the car ferries. There was a major fall in car ferry use in the 70's and 80's, and in 1983 we did not use the ferries because of lack of traffic. In 84-85 it picked back up and we had ferries going again. We have kept 3 around, the Ann Arbor #4, Ann Arbor #5, and Ann Arbor #7. In 2008 with the economy down we had to suspend car ferry service for 3 months because of lack of traffic, we used this time to inspect and repair the boats. Now we serve 3 ports, Frankfort, Kewaunee, and Manitowoc. Since we only have 3 ferries. Now opperations can be a little tricky at times, but it normally works like this:
The first departure of the day is ours of Frankfort. The first boat for the day is scheduled to leave Frankfort at 0900, this service is to Manitowoc. It will arrive in Manitowoc in the early afternoon and the cars will be unloaded by Wiscsion Central RR (or is it southern...) the the WC will have the ferry loaded by 1800 for the departure back to Frankfort. When all goes as scheduled he ferry is back at Frankfort in the late evening.
The second service is to Kewaunee, and it has a slightly different schedule then the Manitowoc service. Since there are two boats to run this service, they are both loaded thought the day and prepared for a 1700 departures from Frankfort and Kewaunee. In Kewaunee we interchange with the Green Bay Western (might need to update this one too)
Car ferry service is doing fine right now running Monday- Saturday. Right now we are looking for a fourth boat to supplemt the Manitowoc service, hopefully one that is also efficient. Currently the 3 boats work on a cycle of going between Kewaunee, Frankfort, and Manitowoc. The cycle prevents one boat from logging more time and requirejng more maintince.
You will have to pay double time and a half (plus piss off some girl friends, wives, moms, and kids
