The S.S. Badger is a coal-fired passenger and vehicle ferry in the United States that travels across Lake Michigan between Manitowoc, Wisconsin and Ludington, Michigan. The ship is named after the University of Wisconsin's athletic mascot.[1]
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Background
It was constructed in 1952 by the Christie Corporation of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin,[1] along with its twin sister the S.S. Spartan with an ice-breaking capable hull and was originally used to carry railroad cars between the two sides of the lake all year long. The ferry connects the eastern and western segments of U.S. Route 10 in the two cities. The S.S. Badger was initially owned and operated by the Pere Marquette Railway, then the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway until 1982. In 1983 the "Chessie System" abandoned its carferry routes and the Badger, Spartan, and the older ferry City of Midland 41 were purchased by Glen Bowden. The railroad car ferry concept on Lake Michigan was facing serious financial trouble during the 1980s and by 1988 the Badger was the only vessel running. It was the last of the fourteen ferries based in Ludington remaining.[1] In 1990, citing bankruptcy, Bowden laid-up the Badger, ending 98 years of carferry service out of Ludington. After sitting idle for a year, the three ferries were purchased by entrepreneur and philanthropist Charles Conrad who completed a major overhaul and refit of the Badger exclusively for carrying passengers and automobiles. The maiden voyage was in May 1992 and since then the vessel has carried literally hundreds of thousands of passengers and vehicles across the lake. It is the only operating ferry of its kind in the world and is an icon of carferry heritage on the Great Lakes. On average, the S.S. Badger completes a trip across Lake Michigan in about four hours, covering 60 miles (97 km).[2] The ferry saves about three and a half hours of travel time and the frustration of crowded highways compared to the 411 mile (661 km) drive from Manitowoc to Ludington via Chicago, Illinois. It is a popular destination for families and travelers of all ages and offers a number of entertainment options and eating facilities on board, as well as passenger staterooms equipped with sleeping berths. Because of its size and construction the S.S. Badger rarely misses a sailing due to weather related delays. The S.S. Badger is also unusual in that it is a registered historical site in two states. The Michigan Historical Commission and the Wisconsin Historical commission each named the Badger as a registered historical site in 1997.
Dimensions
All dimensions are taken from S.S. Badger Facts.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Overall Length | 410 feet, 6 inches (125.1 m) |
| Overall Width | 59 feet, 6 inches (18.1 m) |
| Height | 106 feet, 9 inches (32.5 m) |
| Weight | 4,244 gross tons |
| Average speed | 18 miles per hour (29 km/h) |
| Crew members | 50-60 |
| Capacity | 620 passengers, 180 automobiles, tour buses, RVs, motorcycles, and commercial trucks |
See also
- U.S. Route 9 — another U.S. Route whose segments are bridged by a ferry.
- Lake Express — another ferry on a similar cross-Lake Michigan route.
