Badger Resumes Runs After Backing Incident
THURSDAY MORNING UPDATE: LUDINGTON, MI – The Badger resumed her normal schedule, sailing from Ludington at 9 a.m. Thursday after crews removed her damaged sea gate.
Carferry Badger Damaged After Backing Into Spartan
LUDINGTON, MI – The Lake Michigan Carferry S.S. Badger backed into the retired ferry Spartan during docking Wednesday evening, resulting in the sea gate (see photo in gallery) being bent inwards. The ship then repositioned and backed in correctly. This is a developing story.
102.7 WMOM
Badger-Spartan Incident report for immediate release
For Immediate Release
Date: September 17, 2025
From: Lake Michigan Carferry
Contact: Thom Hawley, Public Relations
Media release – September 17, 2025 Incident
LUDINGTON, Michigan —
The historic SS Badger sustained damage to a stern sea gate after coming in contact with its permanently moored sister ship the SS Spartan in the Ludington Harbor.
The incident, which occurred during a docking procedure, resulted in no injuries to passengers aboard the Badger.
The incident took place at approximately 6:50 p.m. and involved the steamships, which are among the last of their kind. The extent of the damage to the SS Badger’s sea gate is currently being assessed by marine engineers to determine the necessary repairs and to ensure the vessel’s continued safe operation.
“We are grateful that no one was harmed in this incident,” said Thom Hawley from Lake Michigan Carferry. “The safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority. We are working with the relevant authorities to investigate the cause of this collision and to implement any necessary preventative measures.”
The SS Badger’s passenger and vehicle ferry service between Ludington, Michigan, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin, will resume Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 9 a.m.
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Company plans rescue of stranded Northwest Passage ship Thamesborg
Authorities say they are reviewing a draft plan to salvage a commercial freighter that ran aground in the Northwest Passage earlier this month.
The Thamesborg, owned by Dutch shipping firm Wagenborg, which has traded on the Great Lakes, is stranded in the Franklin Strait off the Tasmania Islands between the Nunavut mainland and Prince of Wales Island.
The ship, which was carrying industrial carbon blocks from China to Quebec, has been aground for more than 10 days with damage to its ballast tanks. Officials say no pollution has escaped and the crew of 16 were unhurt.
In its latest update, published on Tuesday, the Canadian Coast Guard said its representatives and Transport Canada officials are reviewing a draft salvage plan submitted by Wagenborg.
The vessel remains stable,” the coast guard added.
Wagenborg, in a separate statement earlier this week, said it is working on “a plan for the safe and effective refloating of the ship” but bad weather had introduced a delay.
“All salvage efforts are dependent on the weather and some operations have had to be delayed due to inclement weather over the weekend,” Wagenborg stated on Monday.
“Meanwhile, a salvage master and naval architect joined Thamesborg and the first salvage equipment and additional staff have arrived on site. Remaining salvage equipment and staff is under way to the site and expected to arrive within seven days.”
The coast guard says its CCGS Des Groseilliers icebreaker is now at the scene, relieving CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier and CCGS Jean Goodwill. Earlier, coast guard ships had helped bring personnel and equipment from nearby Taloyoak to the south.
“Canada follows the ‘polluter pay principle.’ Vessel owners are responsible for taking the appropriate measures to address any risks or hazards posed their vessel, as well as the associated costs,” the coast guard stated.
“This includes any hazard-related costs like cleanup or repairs and any remediation action taken by the Canadian Coast Guard.”
Source: Cabin Radio – Ollie Williams
Via Ship Junkies
Detroit Historical Society hosts several events for 50th anniversary of Edmund Fitzgerald sinking
By: Max White
(WXYZ) — The Detroit Historical Society is hosting a full weekend of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
According to the society, the activities all take place at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle, and will kick off on Friday, Nov. 7, with a talk by author Thomas Nelson, who wrote the book “WRECKED: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”
On Saturday, Nov. 8, curators and docents will host drop-in tours of the Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit on the lower level of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. Also, the Great Lakes Maritime Institute will be there for information and merchandise.
Also on Saturday, the Livonia Amateur Radio Club will be in DeRoy Hall for the Edmund Fitzgerald radio broadcast, and a new pop-up exhibit will debut.
Sunday morning, the museum will host its first-ever Maritime Brunch, which will feature a chef-prepared meal directly from the Edmund Fitzgerald’s on-ship menu, along with a video presentation from Ship-to-Shore Chef Catherine Schmuck.
During the brunch, a new film will premiere about the Edmund Fitzgerald with experts from around the Great Lakes. Tickets for the brunch are available now.
Finally, on Monday, the society will host its 26th annual Lost Mariner’s Remembrance, which is a tribute to the sailors who were lost on the Great Lakes. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and begins with a lantern vigil at the Fitzgerald’s bow setting. Officials say the event sells out every year, and tickets are available now.
Click to see Full story and videos: https://www.wxyz.com/news/detroit-historical-society-hosts-several-events-for-50th-anniversary-of-edmund-fitzgerald-sinking?sfnsn=mo&fbclid=IwY2xjawMsZ1VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHi7V_IMl1KDLaV2aLwAgHT9l68-iG1GT4NPz0DBD_7FrGRv3vNimb9LJi74Q_aem_jJq4jLDiDZj4tCbMK3qspw
Annual Maritime Career Day Seeking Partners
TOLEDO, OHIO – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is calling on maritime and Great Lakes–related industries to take part in its second annual Maritime Career Day on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. Designed to connect students and the public with career opportunities across the region, the event provides a unique platform for companies, higher education institutions, and tradespeople to connect with future talent and gain valuable exposure.
Last year’s inaugural event drew over 300 students and more than 30 career partners, including leaders from various fields such as shipping, environmental science, engineering, the military, and culinary arts. This year, in addition to students, the museum is expanding its reach by inviting the broader community to take part, offering career partners an even wider audience to share their work and opportunities.
“Maritime Career Day is about building connections and inspiring the next generation of Great Lakes professionals,” said Sara Smith, Director of Institutional Advancement with the National Museum of the Great Lakes. “With the addition of a community session this year, partners will not only meet eager students but also connect with adults exploring career opportunities or seeking new paths within our region’s vital industries.”
Event Details:
- Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025
- Student Session: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (Grades 7–12)
- Community Session: 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (Open to the public)
- Location: National Museum of the Great Lakes, 1701 Front St., Toledo, OH
Career partners will host booths inside the museum and aboard its Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, offering attendees a chance to interact directly with professionals from diverse fields.
Sponsors of the 2025 Maritime Career Day include:
- Presenting Sponsor: World Group Foundation – the philanthropic arm of The World Group, dedicated to creating meaningful, lasting change in the communities where its people live and work.
- Community Sponsors: The Andersons and International Ship Masters Association Toledo Lodge 9
Organizations interested in participating as a career partner are encouraged to contact Sara Smith at sara.smith@nmgl.org. Space is limited, and early registration is recommended.For more information, visit nmgl.org/careerday.
Marine Historical Society of Detroit
Now Accepting New Members, Renewals
DETROIT, MI – You don’t have to live in the Motor City to join the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. Its focus includes all the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway as well as the ships and sailors keeping the economies of two countries moving.
The 81-year-old non-profit group is now accepting new memberships and membership renewals.
“The MHSD has plenty to offer anyone interested in and concerned with the history of the Great Lakes and its vibrant maritime heritage,” says long-time group President Roger LeLievre. “We have members across the U.S. and Canada and even overseas.”
Membership includes the monthly publication The Detroit Marine Historian, which offers a variety of articles exploring Great Lakes shipping past and present. It also includes an annual, full-color calendar featuring superb, often rare, photos of Great Lakes ships of the past.
Last year the group published the 300-page, hardcover book Ahoy & Farewell III, documenting the vessels built and those that left the lakes during the past 30 years. The book recently won an award for excellence from the Historical Society of Michigan.
In keeping with society’s goal of preserving historical images, the MHSD’s image portal, featuring photos and details of many historic vessels, is now online at www.marinehistorydetroit.historyit.com
The Society has named an annual Historian of the Year since 1969. The award is voted on by past winners and honors those who have contributed significantly to the research, presentation or publication of Great Lakes ships and the shipping history.
Membership is $40 (U.S. and Canada). Join online at www.mhsd.org. To join or renew by mail, please print out the form in the gallery below.
MHSD
2025 Luck of the Lakes Raffle Includes Ship Trips
Your raffle ticket purchase supports the Great Lakes Historical Society and its National Museum of the Great Lakes whose mission is to preserve, share, and celebrate the past, present, and future of the Great Lakes story.
Details here:
https://nmgl.org/2025lolraffle/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMDBTFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFZUGV4UFMxNFFGYUpPbTZ2AR5OikAHiWMuo30CZrAqM9nuK93_xmmqYBsoAerabXJ3sBlZWNxpz7mZwoLuFw_aem_1pxrUONQfReTGS4dlnAgzg
