KS Associates is playing a pivotal role in helping Miller Boat Line advance critical infrastructure upgrades at its Lime Kiln Dock ferry terminal on South Bass Island, Ohio. KS Associates assisted Miller Boat Line through the grant application process by providing preliminary designs, opinions of probable construction costs, project development schedules, a cost-benefit analysis, and domestic content plan for inclusion in the grant applications. As a result, the Put-in-Bay Township Port Authority and Miller Boat Line were awarded a $10,371,073 Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grant from the U. S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD). KS Associates and Foth Infrastructure and Environment LLC are now assisting with preparation and coordination of an Environmental Assessment (EA) to demonstrate compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) before grant funds can be disbursed.
Grant-Funded Improvements Boost Ferry Service Reliability and Capacity:
Miller Boat Line, the largest passenger ferry company on Lake Erie, operates a five-vessel fleet connecting the mainland with Put-in-Bay (South Bass Island) and Middle Bass Island, Ohio. The Lime Kiln Dock anchors ferry operations on the southern end of South Bass Island, offering the fastest and most direct route from the mainland at Catawba Point. To address growing demand from tourism and increased vehicle traffic and vehicle sizes, Miller Boat Line is expanding its infrastructure by constructing a 406-foot stone breakwater and additional ferry dock adjacent to the Lime Kiln Dock. Funded through the $10.3 million PIDP grant, the breakwater will shield the ferry dock from wave action, serve as a stand-by berth for maintenance operations, and provide a reliable alternate landing site during inclement weather or dock repairs.
Coastal Expertise to Efficiently, Quickly Secure Environmental Clearance:
One of the MARAD conditions before disbursement of the PIDP grant monies was to submit documentation of compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970 (NEPA). NEPA requires that the MARAD assess the environmental effects of proposed actions prior to making a decision to move forward. Miller Boat Line hired KS Associates and Foth to prepare the Environmental Assessment for NEPA compliance.
KS Associates’ coastal engineering team led the Environmental Assessment process by developing permit-level designs for the proposed breakwaters and ferry dock and evaluating the potential environmental impacts. Drawing from extensive experience in breakwater design and lakebed dynamics, KS coastal engineers were uniquely positioned to address the operational realities of ferry infrastructure while ensuring compliance with NEPA requirements.
KS Associates was supported in this effort by Foth Infrastructure, LLC, whose environmental review expertise complemented KS Associates’ technical coastal capabilities. Together, the team ensured that the process advanced efficiently and without delays. Thanks to this collaboration, Miller Boat Line is now positioned to modernize its island-side infrastructure and support reliable ferry operations for years to come.
