Reports have raised concerns that Isle Royale’s main ferry may lack an engineering crew as the island’s opening day approaches. The National Park Service, however, says no disruptions are expected.
Ranger III, a 165-foot vessel operated by the National Park Service, typically ferries passengers and supplies between Houghton and the remote island park in a 6 1/2-hour journey.
The National Parks Traveler reported Wednesday that the ferry’s engineer and assistant engineer retired under a Trump administration buyout program and will continue receiving pay through September, while a hiring freeze prevents replacements.
The Ranger III “cannot operate without a full U.S. Coast Guard-licensed crew,” Bill Fink, a retired Isle Royale superintendent based in Houghton, told the National Parks Traveler. “If the Ranger III cannot operate, Isle Royale cannot be functionally open.”
Beyond transporting visitors, the ferry plays a crucial role in park operations. It delivers fuel to power generators, brings in food supplies for staff and lodge guests, hauls materials for maintenance projects, and carries out waste, Fink said in the report. It also assists boaters by transporting visitor vessels, including those that have become disabled and need to return to the mainland.
The National Park Service did experience layoffs and buyouts as part of the Trump administration’s effort to reduce the federal workforce. In February, 1,000 employees were laid off, according to the National Parks Conservation Association. The Department of the Interior then authorized the hiring of 5,000 seasonal workers.
More: When does Isle Royale National Park reopen? Here’s what to know in Michigan
Isle Royale closes annually from Nov. 1 to April 15. The National Park Service’s website still states that the island plans to reopen on April 16.
The National Park Service’s Washington office, instead of addressing whether Ranger III has an engineering crew, said in a statement that the vessel is “currently in dock with snow and ice blocking the Keweenaw Waterway” and that the agency is “looking forward to the upcoming summer season and seeing visitors enjoy all the park offers.”
“At this time, we do not anticipate disruptions to the passenger season schedule, which starts on May 27,” the statement continued. “The park is working to finalize scheduling for the first freight trip, which is currently scheduled for late April. We don’t comment on specific staffing questions due to federal privacy law.”
Until May 27, visitors can only reach the park by private boats or seaplanes.
Ranger III reservations are available on NPS.gov. Instructions for making reservations online can be found here.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Is Isle Royale’s main ferry facing staffing issues due to federal cuts? Officials say no
Reporting by Nour Rahal, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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