LUDINGTON, MI – The S.S. Badger carferry is expected to be ready for the 2024 sailing season with repairs to its ramp system scheduled to begin this week, officials said.
Lake Michigan Carferry, which owns the Badger, has received all permits needed to start rebuilding the dock infrastructure needed to operate the ship, the company announced today. Crews are expected to be onsite in Ludington this week.
“With the season ending unexpectedly this year, we cannot wait to welcome everyone back in the spring of 2024,” said Sara Spore, general manager of Lake Michigan Carferry.
On July 21, the counterweight structure on the port side failed, rendering the ramp non-operational. Neither the ramp itself nor the ship sustained damage during the incident. No one was injured.
Initially, the Badger was expected to resume 2023 sailings after a few weeks. However, the damage ended its 70th season.
Work is starting this week toward construction of two new counterweight structures for the ramp system. This comes after months of engineering work and planning. The project is expected to take several months to complete.
Al Bufka Construction Inc. from Manistee is expected to be onsite this week to start site preparation and demolition of the port side counterweight. The King Construction Co., of Holland, and Underwater Construction Corporation, from its regional office in Michigan, will perform the extensive below-water work, with a goal of completing it before ice forms on Pere Marquette Lake.
The Badger carries passengers, personal vehicles, freight and more across the marine U.S. 10 highway on Lake Michigan.
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