MANITOWOC, Wis. — The arrival of the S.S. Badger in Manitowoc was reminiscent of a pep rally. 

What You Need To Know

  • Interlake Maritime Services purchased the S.S. Badger in late 2020

  • The ship operates between Manitowoc and Ludington, Mich.

  • It made it’s first set of four-hour voyages of the summer Thursday​

 

For the first time in 2021, the ship is setting sail, and boat-lovers flocked to check it out. Some people showed up because they had a ticket to sail on the return trip to Ludington, Mich., but many more were there to simply see the historic car ferry pull into the harbor and dock.

People like Lisa Lauerman— she drove almost two hours from Wales, Wis., to see the ship’s arrival in Manitowoc.

“Because the Badger is amazing. It’s the best thing on the planet,” she said. “It’s a steamship ferry. It’s beautiful and it’s a national historic landmark.”

Thursday’s arrival was surrounded by fanfare as it was the first trip under the ownership of Interlake Maritime Services, which purchased the Badger late last year.

The company’s president, Mark W. Barker, said the Badger adds another dimension to the company’s portfolio, but it’s also an icon of the Great Lakes and important to both port communities.

He’s also well aware of the tradition and iconic stature of the ship on the Great Lakes.

“The engine room on this boat is amazing. This history of this boat is amazing and then what it does for these communities is amazing,” he said shortly after delivering remarks to crowd gathered outside the ferry terminal. “At the end of the day it’s a lot of fun, a lot of excitement and a lot of work, but it’s great.”

Leona Hein illustrates how entwined the ferry is with the community.

A greeter for the ferry for many years, she showed up an hour and a half before the Badger’s arrival to watch from car.

Hein was especially keen to hear the ship’s horn as it pulled into the harbor.

“I cry, because that’s my old car ferry,” she said about hearing the blasts. “I like to try to be here every year when it comes in.”

As does Lauerman — someone not offended at being called a boat nerd.

“It comes in and you just… you’re swept away and you’re back in time,” she said. “My heart is totally affected every time I see the Badger.”