LMC confirms Badger sailing season extended

LUDINGTON – Lake Michigan Carferry confirmed this morning that the SS Badger’s 2012 sailing season will be extended until November 2. The Mason County Press first reported this last week.The sailing season was scheduled to end October 14.

The reason for the extension is the transportation of wind turbine components. Much of LMC’s business this summer appears to have been from wind turbines. Many sailings have included the large cylinders.

LMC has recently reached an agreement with the manufacturer, GE, which extends the Badger’s sailing season so 60 tower sections can be transported. The Badger has transported more than 300 over-sized wind tower loads so far this year. Travel through Chicago can be difficult so truckers carrying large freight have to travel into Indiana or Ohio, meaning several additional hours of time. Traveling straight across Lake Michigan can save many hours of travel.

According to LMC, the Badger has moved over 1,000 commercial vehicles in 2012, alleviating regional roadways of more than 80 million pounds of truck traffic.

To encourage passenger travel during the Badger’s extended season, LMC will be offering a 40% discount on passenger and vehicle fares from October 15 to Nov 2.

Story and file photo by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief