Great Lakes Boat Blog

SS Badger to undergo repairs in dry dock

March 11, 2025

LUDINGTON  — The SS Badger will be placed into dry dock this spring for repairs in preparation of the upcoming sailing season. The Badger’s official 2025 sailing season will begin on Friday, May 16 when it departs Ludington for Manitowoc, Wis. Prior to that, however, the 410-foot ship will sail to Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding (FBS) in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. where…

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Badger Wheelsman receives Interlake Maritime Services Customer First Award

March 3, 2025

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…

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Capt. John Bissell served Ludington carferries for over three decades

February 4, 2025

This year marks the 150th anniversary of cross-lake service out of Ludington. The service began in 1875, a year after the completion of the Flint & Pere Marquette Railway, which terminated in Ludington. Initially, break-bulk freighters were used — a process that required freight to be unloaded at the dock, placed on the ship, then unloaded at the other dock.…

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Photo feature: Badger on ice

January 25, 2025

Photo by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LUDINGTON — Ice on Pere Marquette Lake has surrounded the SS Badger while it is docked for the winter. Though the Badger, like the other Ludington carferries, was built to operate year-round, for the past 32 years it has operated as a seasonal ship, transporting passengers and motor vehicles between Ludington and Manitowoc, Wis. The…

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Photo Feature: A Badger Christmas

December 8, 2024

Photos by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LUDINGTON — The SS Badger is lit for the Christmas season, including a Christmas tree at the bow. Lake Michigan Carferry recently announced its 2025 sailing season, which will be from May 16 to Oct. 12, 2025. Ticket sales are open and can be purchased at ssbadger.com.   ________________________ Please Support Local News Receive daily…

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