Mackinac Transportation Company

That led MTC to order a purpose built icebreaking rail ferry named SS St. Ignace from the Detroit Dry Dock Company in 1887.

[3] A second Sainte Marie, equipped with her namesake's engines, was delivered in March 1913, whereupon St. Ignace was sold; after several years of icebreaking service she caught fire and was cut down to a barge until her eventual disposal in 1930.

[4] This arrangement limited capacity, and combined with high rates led to public dissatisfaction that eventually culminated in 1923 in the introduction of state-run car ferries across the strait.

[4] Even so, this was insufficient to justify the ownership of two vessels, with Saint Marie operating only in charter icebreaking, and she was therefore sold for scrap in 1961.

[7] After repeated attempts, the ICC granted permission to end operations in 1976, but the state of Michigan chose to subsidize the company in order to continue service.