SS Badger Lake Michigan Carferry ends 2023 season early after ramp damage in Ludington

Brandon Reid, Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter
·3 min read
8

MANITOWOC – The S.S. Badger Lake Michigan Carferry is done for the season.

Interlake Maritime Services, parent company of Lake Michigan Carferry, which operates the Badger, said in a news release Aug. 1 the early end to the sailing season comes after unexpected damage to the ramp system in Ludington, Michigan.

“We have made the difficult, and unfortunately unavoidable, decision to suspend our daily crossings for the remainder of the season,” said Mark W. Barker, president of Interlake Maritime Services, in a news release. “This is not how we hoped our 70th season would end, but we are fully committed to making the extensive repairs — and doing it the right way — so that we will be back better and stronger in 2024 to serve our loyal passengers and port communities.”

While the captain of the S.S. Badger carefully navigates the ship onto its dock, passengers stand on deck to observe the 70th annual arrival, Thursday, May 18, 2023, in Manitowoc, Wis.
While the captain of the S.S. Badger carefully navigates the ship onto its dock, passengers stand on deck to observe the 70th annual arrival, Thursday, May 18, 2023, in Manitowoc, Wis.

According to the release, a failure to the counterweight structure on the port side of the Badger’s ramp system occurred July 21. It said underwater divers, marine construction contractors and an engineering firm were quickly engaged, but over the last week it became clear the necessary repairs were extensive and would take months to clear the collapsed structure and erect a new one.

What it's like to ride on the SS Badger: Ride aboard SS Badger a throwback to bygone era

“While an amazing amount of work has been done in last 11 days and an incredible effort has been made by all of our employees and key partners on the lakes, this is a very complicated process and one that will not be complete in time to resume service this season,” said Sara Spore, general manager of Lake Michigan Carferry, in the release. “We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and disruption in plans. We know that our passengers and our port communities of Ludington and Manitowoc rely on the Badger. We thank them for their support, patience and understanding as we tackle this unexpected and disappointing end to our season.”

The Badger, able to accommodate 600 passengers and 180 vehicles, is the largest cross-lake passenger and car ferry service on Lake Michigan. Its 2023 sailing season started May 18 and was scheduled to run until Oct. 9. The ship makes one four-hour crossing in both directions across Lake Michigan every day, first departing Ludington, Michigan, at 9 a.m. Eastern and arriving in Manitowoc at noon Central and then leaving Manitowoc at around 2 p.m. Central and returning to Ludington at 7 p.m. Eastern.

Lake Michigan's changing climate: A changing climate could cost Great Lakes communities billions. Here’s what's being done about it.

With the early end to the 2023 sailing season, the company said it is working to keep as many of its seasonal staff working as possible in Ludington and through other opportunities in the Interlake family of companies.

Spore said reservation teams are issuing full refunds for passengers with reservations and they will be contacted individually in order of their reservation date.

“We also ask that people please respect the fencing around the dock area in Ludington as it is an active work site,” Spore added.

Call 1-800-841-4243 for information about ticket refunds or exchanges or go to ssbadger.com for more information.

Contact Brandon Reid at 920-686-2984 or breid@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @breidHTRNews.

This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: SS Badger Lake Michigan Carferry ends 2023 season after ramp damage