Arnold Transit Company continuously monitors weather and ice conditions and makes service decisions with safety guiding every call.
How Winter Service Decisions Are Made
Our fleet and operations teams monitor conditions continuously, including:
- Ice formation and movement
- Wind direction and strength
- Weather conditions, precipitation and visibility
- Dock access and navigational safety
When conditions change, decisions are made in real time by our experienced team of captains and leadership.
Schedule Changes & Cancellations
Winter ferry boat schedules change as conditions warrant
- Service changes or cancellations can occur quickly as conditions change and we strive to inform our customers 45 minutes before scheduled departures
- Transit conditions are reviewed before each trip and can change quickly during the winter.
- Additional care is taken whenever possible to communicate anticipated ferry service changes to avoid stranding guests on either side of the Straits
When Winter Service May Be Impacted
- Lake ice conditions, strong winds or limited visibility, can impede safe passage and may impact ferry service.
- Each situation is evaluated carefully, with safety as the guiding factor.
Winter Service Alerts
We use Winter Service Text Alerts to communicate important updates, including:
- Delays
- Cancellations
- Weather- or ice-related schedule changes
Announcements may also be made at the docks based on conditions observed on the water.
We strongly encourage all winter travelers to sign up for text alerts — Simply text “MackinacFerry “to 41411
Shuttle service and Boat Boarding
Boarding for Arnold Transit winter service begins about 20 minutes before scheduled departure times. Before guest can board the ATCo crew checks the mechanical and safety systems to ensure the vessel is ready for the trip. Guests are welcome to wait in the Classic Dock Terminal or Main Dock Terminal, where complimentary coffee and cocoa are available to keep you warm and out of the elements. Once the vessel and crew have completed their checks and everything is ready for the trip we will welcome guests aboard.
Our shuttles start their shuttle service 30 minutes before the first departure time. If you are a last-minute traveler, we recommend purchasing a pass in the McGreggor Lot to park at the dock so you can walk right up to the boat and catch your planned departure time. We always try to make sure all travelers have boarded the boat before it departs, but once the clock strikes the departure time and the staff pulls the ramp the boat will depart to maintain their schedule.
In the event Winter Ice Conditions do not permit safe passage of the Arnold Transit Ferry for more than 5 days, Arnold Transit will temporally suspend shuttle service (after the 5th day) until Ferry Service is able to resume.
