Contact: Brandy Henderson, brandyh@ludington.org

Grassroots Effort to Build Awareness of S.S. Badger Future

May 23, 2011, LUDINGTON, Mich. – In an effort to build awareness and support of the continued operation of the S.S. Badger beyond the 2012 EPA deadline, 6 members of community have joined together to begin a grassroots effort- Save Our Ship!

Mayor John Henderson, Dr. Bill Anderson, Barry Neal, Brad Reed, Todd Reed and Heather Venzke have come together to spread the message that the Ludington Area needs the S.S. Badger to continue operations beyond 2012 in order to remain a competitive player in the region’s tourism and manufacturing industries.

“There is a real possibility that the S.S. Badger may have to cease operations in December 2012, but we are hopeful that the S.O.S. campaign will help demonstrate that our communities need the S.S. Badger and influence Lake Michigan Carferry and the federal government to come to an acceptable solution to conitinue operations”, John Henderson, Mayor of Ludington said.

The S.O.S. Task Force has teamed up with Mayor Justin Nickels from the City of Manitowoc and other members of the community to take on this issue together, as the S.S. Badger’s operations affect both communities.

“The S.S. Badger is an important asset to both of our communities and surrounding regions,” Mayor Henderson said. “We look forward to working together with Manitowoc and bringing light to the issue at hand”.

“The S.S. Badger really is the anchor of our community; it is the cultural, historical and economic centerpiece of Ludington” Brad Reed, SOS Task Force member and co-owner of Todd & Brad Reed Photography said. “The Save Our Ship campaign is focused on informing the public of the issue and gathering the community together to make sure that in the end, the S.S. Badger remains in service”, Todd Reed, SOS Task Force Member and co-owner of Todd & Brad Reed Photography, added.

Save Our Ship is the beneficiary of the online auction of authentic S.S. Badger and carferry artifacts taking place now through May 26^th 6pm ET at www.ssbadgerstore.com/auction. Items include a life ring, rare photographs, captain’s jackets, a chadburn and many more historic artifacts.

The community is encouraged to get involved and help SAVE OUR SHIP by visiting the S.O.S. website, www.sosbadger.com.

SUE PISCHKE – Herald-Times Reporter

The S.S. Badger may need to clean up its act.

But the Environmental Protection Agency needs to be flexible so this historic and fun car ferry across Lake Michigan doesn’t financially sink.

The S.S. Badger is the only coal-fired steamship still in operation on the Great Lakes, according to its owners. Every summer, the ship that’s 410 feet long and 7 stories high hauls up to 600 passengers and 180 vehicles across the lake between Manitowoc and Ludington, Mich.

Each departure and arrival includes crowds of happy travelers excitedly waving from the deck and shore, like a trip back in time to the glory days of transatlantic ocean liners. The nearly 60-year-old ship is on both state and national registers for historic places.

It’s a slice of Americana that specializes in family fun, boosting tourism dollars and jobs on both sides of the lake.

But the EPA has warned the Lake Michigan Carferry Service, which owns and operates the S.S. Badger, that it can no longer discharge coal ash from the ship’s boilers after next year’s season, which runs from May to October.

The owners are exploring the viability of using compressed natural gas instead of coal, according to the Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter. They also have indicated a willingness to spend millions on an upgrade but insist more time is needed to study and plan for the transition.

The ship is already equipped with technology to reduce smoke and increase fuel efficiency. But 3.8 tons of coal ash still fall into the lake each day the ship operates, according to the Manitowoc newspaper.

A solution is needed soon. Yet given the challenging economy, some kind of time extension is justified.

The lake carried more than 50 coal-fired steamships in the ’70s, according to the Lake Michigan Carferry Service. So it’s hard to imagine the one remaining steamship causing much damage by comparison.

Yet with so many threats facing the Great Lakes, a cleaner fuel makes sense. The EPA should give the S.S. Badger more time to comply – assuming the owners can clearly demonstrate they are seriously advancing toward an upgrade.

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Posted in Editorial on Monday, August 22, 2011 6:00 am S.s. Badger