BADGER

General information

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Latest news

Badger to undergo propeller shaft repairs

The S.S. 'Badger' will head to Door County for some sprucing up before its sailing season begins May 16, 2025. The ferry will be placed into dry dock of the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, where it will undergo a propeller shaft bearing repair. The 'Badger' is tentatively scheduled to leave Ludington on April 29, making the 12-hour journey under its own power. It takes two or three weeks of work’ prior to the season, which involves getting the engines and machinery ready. Rather than sailing through the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, the 'Badger' will take a northern route to the tip of the Door Peninsula and Washington Island from Lake Michigan into the Bay of Green. It will then travel south back to the city of Sturgeon Bay. The repairs to the propeller shaft bearing requires taking the ferry out of the water and removing its 13-foot, 10-inch starboard propeller. This repair is different than the 'Badger''s routine five-year dry dock inspection, which last took place over the winter of 2021-2022. The 'Badger' is expected to return to Ludington, Michigan, around May 10 before its spring season begins.

Badger towed to Sturgeon Bay for refit

The SS 'Badger' left Ludington, Michigan, on Nov 3, 2021, at about 9 p.m., towed by two tugs from Sarter Marine Towing and arrived about 12 hours later in Door County, entering through the channel at Sturgeon Bay, to be drydocked at the yard around Nov. 15. The U.S. Coast Guard requires the ship to be inspected every five years. The SS 'Badger' last made the trip to Sturgeon Bay in 2015, but because of her fresh-water operations and seasonality, Interlake Steamship Company, the ferry’s parent company, received an extension for an additional year. Because the vessel’s steam engines and operations have been shut down for the season, she is towed to Door County and back. It will have a full inspection of the underwater portion of the hull. Workers will pull the tail shaft and redo her bearings. The ship will be blasted and painted for the first time since it was operated by the railroad. The company will add an epoxy undercoat to further protect the hull. The SS 'Badger' will head back to Ludington for the winter in about four weeks. The ferry’s next season in 2022 will start on May 12 and end on Oct 16. The company plans to offer two trips a day June 10 through Sep 5 and also typical cruises during the season, including an evening cruise in Manitowoc in 2022.

Ferry sidelined after Covid-19 case

The SS 'Badger' has suspended sailings across Lake Michigan on Aug 6, 2021, after a crew member tested positive for COVID-19. He was quarantined on shore as soon as managers learned the man had been exposed to Covid-19. The company conducteded contact tracing, adding three additional crew members were quarantined and was awaiting test results. The ship was expected to resume trips for both those with and without reservations on Aug. 19d. The company will reschedule or offer refunds to those who have reservations during the time the Badger is docked for the quarantine. Passengers can call 800-841-4243 to adjust bookings. Spore said reservations can be changed up to and until Oct. 10, which ends the 2021 season, without changes to fees or fees related to funding.