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Captain Mike Martin on the bow of the Badger.
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
LAKE MICHIGAN — The Ludington carferry tradition began 149 years ago with the first break-bulk ship hauling freight across Lake Michigan to Wisconsin. It’s a tradition that is embedded into the history and lore of Mason County. Mike Martin of Muskegon is one of two men who currently are part of an exclusive list of those who have commanded the ships. For past 10 years Martin has been one of the captains of the S.S. Badger, the last remaining remnant of the Ludington carferry tradition. He shares the duties with Capt. Ed Wiltse.
Martin’s service with Lake Michigan Carferry, the company that operates the S.S. Badger, began in 1998, following his graduation from Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City. He initially served as third mate. In 2014, he was promoted to captain, replacing Capt. Dean Hobbs, who died in November 2013.
Capt. Martin, background, and Wheelsman Corey Ottgen navigating into Manitowoc harbor.
Martin said being captain of the Badger is a great job.
“I love being on the water,” he said. “It’s far better than sitting in an office all day. We see so many things out here. Earlier this summer we watched the northern lights. Believe it or not it’s never really routine.”
Skippering the Badger is a unique experience in the Great Lakes maritime profession.
“We aren’t just hauling freight and vehicles,” Martin said. “Our most important cargo is people. I really enjoy interacting with the passengers. It seems people have a different mindset when they are out on the open water. There are so many great stories out there. Any given time we have 200 to 500 people on board. Myself and the crew have experienced births, deaths, weddings, and just any other type of milestone event on the Badger.”
Martin said one of the most recent challenges as captain has been the increase in fishing boats in the Ludington harbor.
“We’ve really seen an increase in boaters this year,” Martin said. “While that in itself isn’t an issue, the problem is that many of those boaters don’t understand that the Badger has right-of-way. Not only is it the law, it’s physics. The Badger cannot stop or move instantaneously. I don’t really understand the mentality of some of the boaters. It’s like parking your car on the train tracks and expecting the train to stop for you. Why would you risk your life for that?”
Capt. Martin speaks to passengers while observing the Manitowoc port.
Martin’s career with LMC began in the company’s earlier years. The company was formed by Ludington native and Holland businessman Charles Conrad in 1991 following the bankruptcy of locally-owned Michigan-Wisconsin Transportation, which had purchased the last remaining three Chessie System carferries in 1980. Conrad died in 1995 but his partners kept the company going until they sold it in 2020 to Interlake Maritime Services of Cleveland, Ohio, the oldest continuous Great Lakes shipping company.
“Interlake is committed to keeping the Badger tradition going,” Martin said. “This was proven last year when the counterweight at the Ludington dock collapsed. Replacing that would have been very challenging to the previous owners. You couldn’t ask for a better parent company. For the most part, they trust in the management and crew in Ludington and let us operate the ship as we always have.”
Martin also credits the crew of the Badger for its success.
“This 71-year-old boat is run by a professional crew that loves what they do. It’s great to be part of that team.”
Capt. Martin communicates with the engine room from the aft pilot house as the Badger docks in Manitowoc.
The Badger docked in Manitowoc
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