Dep. Mike Fort, left, with Marine Dep. Mason Marrison (also Dep. Fort’s nephew).
By Kai Taylor, MCP Contributor
LUDINGTON – On any given summer weekend in Ludington, the shores and lake are bustling with swimmers, boats, and tourists. Overseeing all the activity is Deputy Mike Fort and the Mason County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol, dedicated to ensuring that everyone enjoys the water safely and makes it home alright.
The Marine Patrol is led by Ludington’s own Mike Fort, who moved to the area in the third grade, and who has been deeply connected with the community ever since. Inspired by his father, a retired Mason County Sheriff’s Office deputy, Fort pursued a similar path. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1998 to 2005 and attending college, he worked as a Muskegon Police Department officer until 2014. That year, he returned home to join the Mason County Sheriff’s Office and began serving on the Marine Patrol in 2015. After a stint at Ludington Police Department, Fort returned to MCSO and continues in the role of leading the marine division.
“I enjoy being a public servant. It’s tough, but I enjoy it,” Fort said.
The summer months, from June through August, are typically the busiest ones for Fort and the other deputies who serve on marine patrol.
“Fourth of July is when things start to really ramp up around here,” Fort explained.
As the weather starts to warm up and fishing season hits its stride, more visitors flock to Mason County, turning the peaceful area into a seasonal hotspot for tourists. By late August and early September, the crowds begin to thin.
“Labor Day is like a switch, everybody’s just done,” he said.
The Marine Patrol is responsible for monitoring every lake and river in Mason County. The day typically begins by escorting the SS Badger car ferry out of the harbor, a safety measure to ensure boats don’t cross its path during departure.
“During fishing season, there can be a lot of boats out here early in the morning, we make sure they get out of the way,” Fort said.
Once the ferry is safely on its way, announced by a horn that echoes across Ludington, the team’s tasks can range from routine patrols to administrative duties back at the office.
The most common violations the deputies encounter involve safety and equipment issues. “Some are obvious,” Fort said. “Like a kid with no life jacket on a boat. If it were up to me, everyone should wear life jackets.” Other infractions include missing or inaccessible life vests, or boats lacking proper registration, any of which could result in a citation.
Though the U.S. Coast Guard maintains a small station in Ludington, it’s not always staffed — in fact, it hasn’t been staffed in a few years. The closest fully-manned Coast Guard station is in Manistee. That being said, the Marine Patrol and the Coast Guard do team up on occasion, such as helping with any distress on Lake Michigan or fireworks for holidays. The Coast Guard handles all the water rescues and officially takes over duties in October, when the weather cools down and the lake is not used as frequently.
But sometimes, the Marine Patrol has to take the lead.
One such instance happened last summer, when the Coast Guard was unavailable to respond to a disabled vessel. Fort and his crew sprang into action around 10 p.m., venturing into seven-foot waves on Lake Michigan to rescue a group of stranded fishermen
“The lake is a whole different world at night,” Fort said. “It’s difficult to see your own hand, let alone a whole boat.” The crew returned around 3 or 4 a.m., exhausted but successful.
“That’s the main job, the main goal is to get people home.”
So whether it’s a busy holiday afternoon, or a quiet summer night, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol is always on the lookout, making sure that everybody returns to shore safely.
__________________________
Please Support Local News
Receive daily MCP and OCP news briefings along with email news alerts for $10 a month. Your contribution will help us to continue to provide you with free local news.
Payment can be made monthly via credit card, bank account, PayPal or Venmo through recurring email invoicing. These payments can be set up for autopay each month.
To sign up, email editor@mediagroup31.com. In the subject line write: Subscription. Please supply your name, email address, mailing address, and phone number (indicate cell phone). We will not share your information with any outside sources. For more than one email address in a household, the cost is $15 per month per email address.
Alternative methods:
PayPal Monthly Payment. Click this link.
We can send you an invoice for a yearly payment of $120, which you can conveniently pay online or by check. If you are interested in this method, please email editor@mediagroup31.com and we can sign you up. You can also mail a yearly check for $120 to Media Group 31, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454 (please include your email address).
Payment must be made in advance prior to subscription activation.
We appreciate all our readers regardless of whether they choose to continue to access our service for free or with a monthly financial support.
_____
This story and original photography are copyrighted © 2025, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.
As the services of Media Group 31, LLC are news services, the information posted within the sites are archivable for public record and historical posterity. For this reason it is the policy and practice of this company to not delete postings. It is the editor’s discretion to update or edit a story when/if new information becomes available. This may be done by editing the posted story or posting a new “follow-up” story. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. Refer to Use Policy for more information.
.png)
