SS Spartan
SS Spartan sailing on Lake Michigan in her prime | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| United States | |
| Name | SS Spartan |
| Namesake | Michigan State University |
| Owner | Interlake Maritime Services |
| Port of registry | Ludington, Michigan |
| Builder | Christy Corporation, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin |
| Yard number | Hull No. 369 |
| Launched | 4 January 1952 |
| Christened | 6 September 1952 |
| In service | October 1952 |
| Out of service | November 1979 |
| Identification |
|
| Nickname(s) | The mighty Spartan |
| Status | Inactive |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Passenger, and automobile car ferry |
| Tonnage | 4,244 gross tons |
| Length | 410 ft 6 in (125.12 m) |
| Beam | 59 ft 6 in (18.14 m) |
| Depth | 24 ft (7.32 m) molded depth |
| Installed power | Steam, coal-fired |
| Propulsion | Two compound Skinner Unaflow steam engines, totaling 7,560 hp (5.64 MW); four Foster-Wheeler water-tube type D boilers, 450 psi (3.10 MPa) |
| Speed | 18 mph (15.6 kn; 29.0 km/h) |
| Capacity | 620 passengers, 180 automobiles, also tour buses, RVs, motorcycles, and commercial trucks |
SS Spartan is a railroad car ferry on Lake Michigan owned by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) from 1952 through 1979. The ship alternated routes from Ludington, Michigan, to Milwaukee, Kewaunee, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin.