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By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
LUDINGTON — The Mason County Sheriff’s Office has taken recent steps to improve its marine patrol response times on Lake Michigan and Pere Marquette Lake.
The sheriff’s office recently entered into a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Coast Guard to use office space at the station and eventually use its lift station along the Ludington channel. The station is located at 101 S. Lakeshore Drive.
“By making this move, we will drastically improve our response times into Lake Michigan,” Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole said. “This is another step forward in the already valuable partnership the Mason County Sheriff’s Office has with the U.S. Coast Guard.”
The marine patrol is currently stationed at the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, 302 N. Delia St. While marine patrol deputies spend most of their shifts on the water, they also complete paperwork at the office.
“The sheriff’s office is a mile from where the Lake Michigan boat is docked,” Cole said. “In an emergency, that one mile equates to at least an additional five minutes just in travel. Additionally, summertime in downtown Ludington means traffic and pedestrians. Running lights and siren down Ludington Avenue during those circumstances is never ideal.”
While the marine patrol is on duty, the department’s 25-foot Safe Boat RB-S, designated as 5348, will be docked along the channel. Eventually, the patrol will use the boat lift adjacent to the Coast Guard station.
“The lift requires a weight study in order for us to use it,” Cole said. “Once that is complete, and any required repairs performed, then we will be able to keep the boat at the lift throughout the season, which will save even more time.”
For the past several summers, the boat has been berthed along Loomis Street at the Ludington Municipal Marina. Previously, it was docked at Harbor View Marina.
“Every second counts during a water emergency,” Cole said. “Moving the marine patrol to the Coast Guard lift from Loomis Street will cut down that time. Plus, having an office right next to the boat will improve response times.”
The current Coast Guard station opened in 2004 but has not been staffed since 2022. It is under the command of Coast Guard Station Manistee. Even though the Coast Guard exceeded its recruitment goals by 121% in fiscal year 2025, the station remains unoccupied.
The boat lift sits in front of the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, adjacent to the Coast Guard station.
The new agreement with the sheriff’s office is consistent with the Coast Guard’s recent trend of turning over many search-and-rescue and patrol duties to local agencies. The sheriff’s office’s 25-foot boat was acquired from the Coast Guard, and occupying the unstaffed station appears to follow that trend.
The marine patrol includes one full-time deputy, Deputy Mike Fort, along with five part-time seasonal deputies. It operates four boats that patrol Lake Michigan and the county’s inland lakes and rivers. Fort serves as a road patrol deputy during the winter months.
“This is going to be a valuable arrangement that will save lives,” Cole said. “We are very thankful that the Coast Guard has entered into this partnership with us.”
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