Great Lakes Boat Blog

Spartan stern gate removed

October 24, 2025

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LUDINGTON — The S.S. Spartan’s stern gate was removed Thursday, Oct. 23, in the likely move to place the structure on the stern of the S.S. Badger. On Sept. 17 the Badger backed into the bow of the moored Spartan, causing severe damage to the Badger’s stern gate. The gate was removed that evening and the…

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Calumet is second freighter in a row to visit Ludington

October 24, 2025

This Great Lakes Boat Blog is presented by House of Flavors Restaurant, 402 W. Ludington Ave., Ludington; houseofflavorsrestaurants.com By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LUDINGTON — The M.V. Calumet was the second freighter to visit Ludington in as many days when it arrived about 12:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. Thursday evening, the Calumet’s fleet mate, M.V. Manitoulin arrived. Both vessels were delivering…

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Working the Lakes: Undaunted/PM41; Visiting the shipyard, part 2

October 17, 2025

By Mark Varenhorst, MCP Contributing Writer October 7, 2025 found me boarding the S.S. Badger for a trip to Manitowoc, Wis. and then to Fincantieri Bay Ship Building in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., — known to locals as Bay Ship.  I boarded the Badger at 7 a.m. that morning meeting up with my editor and friend Rob Alway.  When onboard I…

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Working the Lakes: Undaunted/PM41; 5-year inspection

October 15, 2025

This Great Lakes Boat Blog is a presentation of Filer Credit Union, with offices in Manistee, Ludington and Bear Lake, www.filercu.com and the Mason County Historical Society’s Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, ludingtonmaritimemuseum.org, located at 217 S. Lakeshore Dr., Ludington. By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief STURGEON BAY, Wis. — Late in the evening on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, the articulated tug/barge Undaunted/Pere Marquette…

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The shipwrecks of 1929: Wisconsin sinks on eve of Great Depression

October 14, 2025

Great Lakes History Log is presented by Filer Credit Union with offices in Manistee, Ludington, East Lake, and Bear Lake and the Mason County Historical Society, which operates the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, Historic White Pine Village and the Rose Hawley Archives in downtown Ludington. Part 3: S.S. Wisconsin By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief The last four months of 1929…

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