SS Badger in Manitowoc, July 2017. PC: Fox 11 Online
MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The S.S. Badger’s 70th season has come to an abrupt end.
The Lake Michigan Carferry company says after unexpected damage to its ramp system, it is unable to resume operations for the remainder of the season.
“We have made the difficult, and unfortunately unavoidable, decision to suspend our daily crossings for the remainder of the season,” Mark Barker, president of Interlake Maritime Services said. “This is not how we hoped our 70th season would end but we are fully committed to making the extensive repairs – and doing it the right way – so that we will be back better and stronger in 2024 to serve our loyal passengers and port communities.”
On July 21, a failure of the counterweight structure on the port side of the Badger’s ramp system occurred.
Since then, underwater divers, marine construction contractors and an engineering firm have assessed the damage and concluded that the necessary repairs would take months.
In the meantime, the company is working to keep as many of its seasonal staff working as possible in Ludington and through other employment opportunities within the company.
Staff is working to issue full refunds for passengers with reservations and they will be contacted individually in order of their reservation date.
The S.S. Badger ferries passengers, vehicles and freight between Ludington, Michigan and Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
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