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Joe DeBusk in the Badger pilot house
LUDINGTON — SS Badger Wheelsman Joe DeBusk recently received the Interlake Maritime Services Customer First Award, presented during the company’s annual winter meeting in Savannah, Ga. Interlake Maritime Services, which operates the largest shipping fleet on the Great Lakes, acquired Lake Michigan Carferry (LMC) in 2020.
DeBusk, who lives in Reed City, has worked for LMC for 10 years. He was nominated for the award by Sara Spore, LMC general manager.
“Each year Interlake honors an employee for each of our core values,” Spore said. “Those values include innovation, customer first, passion to perform, and one-hand (a crew member who embraces the idea of always willing to lend a hand to a shipmate).
The recipient is selected by the Interlake executive committee as well as some of the company’s captains.
“Joe has worked his way up through the company and always has a smile on his face,” Spore said. “He is the first to greet a passenger and is there to comfort those who may not be feeling well during a crossing. He does an amazing job as wheelsman and never hesitates to go above and beyond.
“This winter season Joe worked to decorate the ship for the holiday season in our festive lights, which was well received by the Ludington community.”
DeBusk’s love of the Badger began in 2004 when his grandparents began a tradition of taking him on an annual trip on the Badger. “I have ridden on the Badger every year since.”
He began his career at the Badger in 2015 working as a deck hand assistant, a position now known as deck security. His job was to make sure the deck was clean and secured.
He then attended the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, located on the campus of Northwest Michigan College in Traverse City, where he earned certification as an able body (AB) seaman, qualifying him to be a wheelsman. An AB also assists in loading and unloading the ship as well as performing deck maintenance.
Last December, he earned certification as a radar observer, which is a step closer to his goal of earning a bachelor’s degree with a major in maritime – deck officer, which will also allow him to be licensed as a third mate. With a Third Mate Great Lakes license, he will qualify to serve any of the mate positions on the Badger, third mate, second mate, and first mate.
“I’m hoping to have that done by the end of the year,” DeBusk said. “It will be kind of bitter-sweet because I really enjoy stirring the ship. But, my ultimate goal is to earn my captain’s license.”
DeBusk’s love of carferry and maritime history extends beyond his job. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Society for the Preservation of the SS City of Milwaukee and USCGC Acacia in Manistee, Mich. The Society oversees the museum ship SS City of Milwaukee, a carferry that was built in 1930 and served in the Grand Trunk Railroad fleet out of Grand Haven and Muskegon until 1978 when it briefly served the Ann Arbor Railroad fleet out of Frankfort. The US Coast Guard Cutter Acacia began service on the Great Lakes during World War II and was decommissioned in 2006. Many present and past members of the Badger’s crew have volunteered on the City of Milwaukee.
The Badger offers a variety of year-round and season jobs and is currently hiring. Visit ssbadger.com/join-the-crew for more information.
The 2025 sailing season begins Friday, May 16. To reserve tickets visit ssbadger.com or call 800-841-4243 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (ET).
