MCP Boat Blog

Experiencing the Fourth of July on the Princess

July 9, 2026

By Mark Varenhorst, MCP Writer LAKE MICHIGAN — The Fourth of July found me in Manistee. Wally Laaksonen, owner of Manistee Harbor Tours, had invited me to join the inaugural Princess fireworks cruise to Ludington. I wasn’t about to miss that. Over the years, I have watched the Ludington Area Jaycees Freedom Festival fireworks from the beach, from open fields around…

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Prime returns to Ludington for another Oxy shipment

July 7, 2026

This MCP Boat Blog is presented by the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, www.masoncountymihistory.org. By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LUDINGTON — The Norwegian-flagged tanker Prime returned to the Port of Ludington Tuesday, July 7, delivering another shipment of calcium chloride to the OxyChem plant on Pere Marquette Lake. The vessel arrived at about 8 a.m., escorted by the tug Sarah Andrie, and…

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Maritime legends

July 2, 2026

This MCP Boat Blog is presented by the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, www.masoncountymihistory.org. Photos by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LUDINGTON — The Pere Marquette 41 barge passes the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum Thursday afternoon as the barge and its tug, the Undaunted, departed Ludington en route to Manistee. The barge is the former legendary City of Midland 41 carferry. Built…

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Aquastar history cruise to explore Muskegon’s maritime past

June 30, 2026

This MCP Boat Blog is presented by the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, www.masoncountymihistory.org. Photos and story by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief MUSKEGON — Longtime Muskegon journalist and community leader Dave Alexander will serve as narrator during a special history cruise aboard the Aquastar on Sunday, July 5, sharing stories about Muskegon Lake’s maritime heritage while passengers experience the waterfront from the…

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Oldest freighter, newest cruise ship highlight Father’s Day history tour on Muskegon Lake

June 22, 2026

This MCP Boat Blog is presented by the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, www.masoncountymihistory.org. Photos and story by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief MUSKEGON — Father’s Day was a good day for this boat nerd and history geek. My family treated me to a Father’s Day history cruise aboard the Aquastar on Muskegon Lake. The outing turned into something even more special…

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