LUDINGTON, Mich. — The famous Lake Michigan car ferry, the S.S. Badger, did not set sail Monday morning.
The July 8 voyage set to take place at 9 a.m. was canceled due to ongoing what those behind the Badger say they've identified as an electrical issue.
It started when the boat suffered began suffering the issue during a trip Saturday night on the way to Ludington from Manitowoc around 8 p.m.
13 ON YOUR SIDE spoke with S.S. Badger officials over the weekend. They said the power was out on the ship, but there was no threat to the safety of the passengers.
Speaking with 13 ON YOUR SIDE on Monday, Lake Michigan Carferry Spokesman Thom Hawley said engineers had been able to isolate the problem.
"It may be a transformer or one of the electrical boxes aboard the ship, and it's not always easy to find parts for a 70 year old ship," Hawley said. So, we are working with professional electricians who understand these problems, and they are helping our engineers to get the problem fixed."
"The ship's engineers and electricians are working diligently through the night to seek resolutions to the electrical issue aboard the ship," officials said on Facebook.
They say the ship will return to normal scheduling once the issue is resolved.
"We hope to wrap up the issue [Monday] afternoon, which will allow us to begin our regular sailing [Tuesday] morning at 9 a.m.," Hawley said.
Anyone needing a refund or a rescheduling of travel plans can call 800-841-4243.
"The ship is in very good sailing condition," Hawley said. "Problems crop up occasionally, and, just like anything in the transportation industry, often we might be displaced by a canceled flight due to a mechanical problem aboard a plane. This is the same situation where we need to just take the time to make sure that whatever issue has come up won't happen again."
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