MV Manitou

Interstate Navigation Company owner John H. Wronowski began construction of the passenger/vehicle ferry MANITOU in 1969 at Thames Shipyard and Repair Company in New London, CT. The vessel was launched in 1969, and construction was completed in 1970. The vessel was designed by naval architect Robert S. Simons. At the time of her delivery, she was billed as the largest USCG, Subchapter “T” certified vessel ever to be built and represented the “new generation” of marine transportation of passengers, vehicles, and freight to Block Island from the mainland. The vessel began service in the spring of 1970 on the Pt. Judith to Block Island run, operating from the end of the State Pier in Galilee. The MANITOU replaced the ferry SPRIGG CAROL as the year-round vessel. The vessel originally side loaded vehicles and passengers in Pt. Judith and Block Island. In 1971, the vessel was fitted with a stern loading ramp (a part of the original design) and further improved the Company’s ability to efficiently transport trucks and automobiles to Block Island. In 1971, the company also installed the land based stern loading ramps first on Block Island, followed by Pt. Judith. The ferry MANITOU ran full time, every day as the year-round vessel until 1985, when she was relieved part time by the CAROL JEAN. She was later replaced as the year-round vessel in 1986 by the ferry ANNA C. She became a seasonal vessel (April through October) carrying passengers, autos, trucks and freight opposite the CAROL JEAN. When the ferry BLOCK ISLAND went into service in June of 1997, the MANITOU became the standby/reserve vessel, until she returned to service on the Newport to Block Island run for the summers of 2000 through 2003 and 2008. The MANITOU has served since 2004 as the standby/reserve vessel, with several brief returns to the Newport run in relief of the ferry NELSECO. The vessel is USCG, Subchapter “K” certified for 302 passengers, 100 feet in length, 97 gross tons, and the vessel’s (2) Cummins diesel propulsion engines (1000 HP) deliver a service speed of 12.5 knots.