Image courtesy of TerraServer.

Shown here are the three carferries moored in the Ludington Harbor. From top left to lower right are the SS Badger, Spartan, and City of Midland. This image was captured in April of 1993 and does not show the new Harbor View Marina.

S.S. Badger Information

Facts and Statistics

The S.S. Badger offers the only cross-lake passenger-oriented service on the Great Lakes. A four hour 60-mile cruise takes passengers and their vehicles or bicycles across Lake Michigan between Ludington, Michigan and Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

Dimensions Length: 410 feet, 6 inches Width: 59 feet, 6 inches Height: 106 feet, 9 inches Weight: 4,244 gross tons 42 staterooms, 84 berths

2 solid 4-blade cast steel propellers; 15' in diameter and weighing 15,400 lbs each.

Average Sea Speed: 18 miles per hour (Top speed is 24 miles per hour)

Number of Crew Members on each Trip: 60

The ship accomodates 620 passengers, 180 automobiles, tour buses, R.V.s and semi-trucks.

The S.S. Badger was built in 1952 by the Christy Corporation of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin at the cost of $5 million.

The Ship was first launched on September 6 1952, and began daily service on March 21, 1953. Ferry service between Michigan and Wisconsin has been in existence for over 100 years!

After being idle for a year-and-a -half, the Badger resumed cross-lake service on May 18,1992, under the new ownership of The Lake Michigan Carferry Service, Inc.

Facts provided by: SS Badger.com.