Great Lakes Boat Blog

Sunken boat salvaged from Pere Marquette Lake

May 5, 2025

MCP Boat Blog is a presentation of the Mason County Historical Society’s Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, ludingtonmaritimemuseum.org, located at 217 S. Lakeshore Dr., Ludington. This article was updated on May 6. By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LUDINGTON — Salvage crews recovered a sunken commercial fishing boat today in Pere Marquette Lake near Thompson Marina. Ludington Police Department reported the vessel…

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MCP Boat Blog: The MV Great Republic in Holland

May 3, 2025

MCP Boat Blog is a presentation of 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 The eastern shore of Lake Michigan has a long maritime heritage. This is the beginning of two new blogs that we will be featuring on Mason County Press. The other blog…

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Badger to leave for repairs Tuesday

April 25, 2025

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LUDINGTON  — The SS Badger is expected to depart Ludington between 6 to 8 a.m. on Tuesday, April 29 for Sturgeon Bay, Wis. where it will undergo pre-season repairs. The Badger will make the approximately 12 hour trip under its own power. The 410-foot-long Badger will be placed in dry dock at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding (FBS)…

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Cross Lake romance strengthens the SS Badger family

April 16, 2025

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LUDINGTON — There is a common theme among the crew of the SS Badger: Family. Whether that is a closeness that is created through the shared purpose of working on a unique and historic vessel that has served the Great Lakes for 72 years, or whether it is actual family. Often multiple members of the same…

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MV Manitowoc arrives in Manistee

April 9, 2025

Photos by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief MANISTEE — The 630-foot long MV Manitowoc arrived in Manistee today, the first freighter of the new shipping season. It is docked in Filer City and appears to be delivering coal. The River Class vessel is owned by Rand Logistics and operated under its subsidiary Grand River Navigation Company. The self-unloading vessel was built in…

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