Harbormaster prohibiting fishing in harbor during carferry departure, return

‘Over the last week, there have been numerous occasions when the S.S. Badger has encountered boats that failed to give way. In some cases, the captain of the S.S. Badger was forced to take actions to avoid a collision.’

LUDINGTON — The Ludington Police Department has issued a harbormaster order, limiting the hours that people can fish in the Ludington Harbor due to dangerous conditions caused by boats not yielding to the S.S. Badger carferry, which ports there.

Ludington Police Chief Chris Jones issued the following press release Thursday, Aug. 22,  in regard to the harbormaster order:

“LPD has been made aware of dangerous conditions due to the large number of boats in the harbor, for the purpose of fishing. Over the last week, there have been numerous occasions when the S.S. Badger has encountered boats that failed to give way. In some cases, the captain of the S.S. Badger was forced to take actions to avoid a collision. It is important to remember that the harbor is primarily a channel for navigation, and only secondarily, a fishing location. The S.S. Badger is not able to maneuver around the many smaller boats that have taken up residency in the harbor, due to the abundant fish. The United States Coast Guard, Mason County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol, and Ludington Police Department will be working together to enforce Harbormaster Order 24-10, as well as an accompanying USCG order, similar in nature. The order was not created in haste, but rather out of caution, and as a result of the failure of boaters and those fishing, to give way to a much larger vessel, creating a hazardous environment. We would like to thank the fishing and boating communities for their anticipated cooperation. We will revisit this order on a regular basis, to determine its effectiveness and need.”

Harbormaster order 24-01 states the following:

“A need has been established to temporarily and periodically prohibit fishing and other non-transitory activities, within the City of Ludington Harbor. For the purposes of this order, the City of Ludington Harbor western boundary shall be identified as the area between the pier heads and the eastern boundary shall be a straight line between the west point of the Ludington Youth Sailing School (LYSS) and the shore directly to the west. Under the authority given by City Ordinance, Sec. 66-29, adopted by the City Council of the City of Ludington, the Harbormaster prohibits fishing and other non-transitory activities, within the City of Ludington Harbor, during the days and times identified below. This order is effective on Aug. 22 through Sept. 1, 2024, based on the day of the week, from:

• Monday: 5:45 a.m. through 9:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m.through 7:15 p.m.
• Tuesday: 8:15 a.m. through 9:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. through 7:15 p.m.
• Wednesday: 8:15 a.m. through 9:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. through 7:15 p.m.
• Thursday: 8:15 a.m.through 9:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. through 9:15 p.m.
• Friday: 5:45 a.m. through 9:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. through 9:15 p.m.
• Saturday: 5:45 a.m. through 9:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m.through 9:15 p.m. S
• Sunday: 5:45 a.m. through 9:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. through 9:15 p.m.
• Additionally, this order is in effect Sept. 2 through Sept. 15, 2024 from 8:15 a.m. through 9:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. through 7:15 p.m.”

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