Ranger III
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Template:Infobox ship imageTemplate:Infobox ship careerTemplate:Infobox ship characteristicsRanger III is a 648-ton vessel built to carry visitors to Isle Royale National Park, on Lake Superior.<ref name=BoatnerdRangerIII/><ref name=MiningGazette2015-08-21/><ref name=LansingStateJournal2016-05-27/> She was built in 1958, and has undergone several refits. The vessel is designed to carry 125 passengers, as well as 100 tons of cargo. She is designed to be operated by a crew of six when only carrying cargo, and by a crew of nine, when carrying passengers.
The vessel she replaced, Ranger II, was a war-surplus, wooden-hulled former minesweeper.<ref name=BoatnerdRangerIII/> The first Ranger was also a wooden-hulled military surplus vessel.<ref name=NpsRangerHistory/>
As built, she was powered by a pair of two-stroke diesel engines, generating Template:Convert, which were replaced by a pair of conventional diesel engines, generating Template:Convert.<ref name=BoatnerdRangerIII/> While the vessel is capable of light ice-breaking, in late spring or early fall, the heavy ice of winter requires shutting service down.<ref name=MiningGazette2015-04-22/>
In 2012 the vessel's ballast water system was upgraded.<ref name=NPTraveler2012-07-20/> Ballast water is subjected to filtration and ultraviolet light.<ref name=JournalSentinel2014-08-09/> The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel published a series of articles on the threats invasive species posed to vulnerable native species, which praised the National Park Service's initiative in equipping Ranger III with a state of the art system.<ref name=JournalSentinelBallast2014-07-24/>
While other vessels carry some of the visitors to the park, Ranger III removes all their trash.<ref name=NPTraveler2016-09-06/>
Operational historyEdit
On 4 August 2010, the Portage Lake Lift Bridge became stuck position trying to lift for the "Ranger". The lift span did not seat properly on the desk, causing the deck to be a bit askew. <ref name=MiningGazette2011-01-04/>
On 29 July 2015, Isle Royale Queen IV ran aground, and Ranger III was called upon to bring the other vessel's passengers to the mainland.<ref name=Abc2015-07-29/>
On 23 July 2016, the Portage Lake Lift Bridge broke down while Ranger was passing under it.<ref name=MiningGazette2016-07-23/>
ReplacementEdit
The National Park Service is considering replacing Ranger III, either with a more modern vessel of similar capability, or several smaller, more specialized vessels.<ref name=NpsRangerReplacement/>