VESSEL REVIEW | Mary Ann Market – Ohio operator welcomes new Ro-Pax to fleet

Ohio-based operator Miller Boat Line has placed its newest Ro-Pax vessel into service.

Mary Ann Market honours the late founder of Miller Boat Line. It was completed by Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding of Wisconsin with design work provided by naval architecture firms SeaCraft Design and the Elliott Bay Design Group. Initial construction was carried out at Fraser Shipyards.

The newbuild is the largest vessel in the Miller Ferry fleet with a length of 140 feet (42.6 metres), a beam of 38.5 feet (11.7 metres), a draught of seven feet (2.1 metres), and capacity for 600 passengers and 28 vehicles. It will be operated between Put-In-Bay and Middle Bass Island.

Mary Ann Market boasts enhanced propulsion and manoeuvrability, a main deck ADA-accessible passenger cabin and lavatory, and a 20 per cent increase in cargo capacity over Miller's next largest vessel. Among the key features are additional deck seating outdoors, an enclosed cabin, a spacious upper deck offering panoramic views, broad stairwells, and audio/visual messaging. The interiors are all temperature-controlled.

The propulsion arrangement consists of three Caterpillar C18 EPA Tier III engines, each with a rated output of 800 hp (596 kW) at 2,100 rpm. The two outer engines drive Michigan Wheel propellers via Twin Disc MGX-5222DC gearboxes while the centre engine turns a Hundested controllable-pitch propeller. Hundested also installed a bow tunnel thruster for added manoeuvrability. Rounding out the propulsion are rudders from Deflector Marine and two Northern Lights 65kW generators.

The electronics suite consists of Furuno radars and navigation equipment, an Axis CCTV system with 24 cameras, a Zenitel GA/PA system, and navigation lights from SignalMate.

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