Engine error cause of carferry accident

September 19, 2025

The Badger backs into its slip Friday evening.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief

LUDINGTON — An engine error is responsible for the S.S. Badger losing control while backing into its Ludington slip Wednesday evening, Sept. 17.

“While backing to the loading apron in the usual manner, the engines did not respond as ordered by the captain operating the engine order telegraphs resulting in the vessel colliding with the permanently moored S.S. Spartan,” Lake Michigan Carferry spokesman Thom Hawley said.

One of the Badger’s engine room EOTs

The incident damaged the 72-year-old 410-foot long ship’s stern gate, resulting in the gate being removed. A previous press release stated the extent of the damage to the Badger’s stern gate was being assessed by marine engineers to determine the necessary repairs and to ensure the vessel’s continued safe operation.

No injuries were reported following the collision.
“The S.S. Badger has a remarkable safety record,” Hawley said. “We will continue to review the incident to continually improve our operational standards and the valuable service we provide our passengers.”
The Badger crew uses engine order telegraphs (EOTs), manufactured by Chadburn’s Limited of Liverpool, England, to communicate between the pilot houses and the engine room, a technology developed in the 1850s that is still utilized in many marine vessels. The Badger, like its predecessor car ferries — dating back to 1892 — has two pilot houses, one forward and one aft (front and back).

During the docking procedure, the captain gives commands, using the EOT, from the aft pilot house. The EOT uses bells indicating various communication back and forth between the captain and the engineers. Down in the engine room, two engineers typically monitor the EOTs — one controlling the starboard side engines, one controlling the port side engines while an oiler will typically watch the engine’s instruments.

As stated previously, the EOTs were operating properly, but an engine did not respond following the orders from the captain given via the EOT.

Following Wednesday’s accident, crew members from LMC and also a crew from Al Bufka Construction of Grant Township, almost immediately began making repairs, remarkably removing the stern gate from the boat by the time the ferry was set to sail again the next morning. U.S. Coast Guard officials were reported to have been on scene at the boat’s docks in both Ludington and Manitowoc and it was cleared to operate again. To date this sailing season, the Badger has only cancelled one sailing — which was due to gale-force winds.

The Spartan and the Badger are considered sister ships. The Spartan began service in October 1952 and the Badger began service in March 1953. Both were built by Christy Corporation of Sturgeon Bay, Wis. Both were purchased in 2020 by Ohio-based Interlake Maritime Services which continues to operate Lake Michigan Carferry as a subsidiary.

The Badger’s sailing season is expected to continue to operate as scheduled until Oct. 12.

View of the damaged stern gate Wednesday evening.

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