SS Badger plans to be back in operation by Tuesday morning

The SS Badger ferry plans to resume normal operations Tuesday morning.

That announcement was made when the following statement was issued shortly after noon Monday:

"The SS Badger remains in Ludington today as the ship's engineers and electricians continue to make repairs caused by an electrical issue aboard the ship.

After departing Manitowoc on Saturday afternoon, an electrical issue arose while the ship was underway to Ludington. The problem was quickly identified allowing the ship to safely continue its cross-lake operation.

"The Badger's engineers are working around the clock to complete the repair. The problem has been isolated and once the repair is complete the ship will resume its normal sailing schedule," said Lake Michigan Carferry spokesman Thom Hawley.

Hawley added, "We expect to return to a full sailing schedule by tomorrow (Tuesday) morning. LMC apologizes for the inconvenience to passengers, and we are working with those who have been impacted by this incident."

LMC’s reservation staff are available to provide passengers with information on the status of future sailings.

Those who wish to make alternate travel arrangements or receive a refund are encouraged to call 800-841-4243.

Schedule updates will also be posted on ssbadger.com"

On Sunday, the following statement regarding this evening's Lake Michigan crossing from Ludington to Manitowoc, Wis., was posted online.

"Due to ongoing mechanical repairs and to assure continued reliable and safe operation of the SS Badger, the July 7, 8:45 pm Ludington to Manitowoc crossing has been canceled.

Lake Michigan Carferry apologizes for the unexpected delays and inconvenience to its passengers."
—S.S. Badger: Lake Michigan Carferry

As of 7 a.m. Monday, the service was still delayed, despite engineers working through the night on an electrical issue.

The problem comes just under 1 year after a ramping system failure ended their 2023 season.

If you've made reservations, the company asks that you call 1-800-841-4243 to speak with their reservationist about arrangements and refunds. Today's date is block-out for future ticket purchases online.