LUDINGTON, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Winter maintenance repairs are underway on the SS Badger in Ludington as crews prepare the ferry for upcoming cruises.

The SS Badger is a national historic landmark that first entered service in 1953. It is the last coal-fired passenger steamship in the United States and ferries from Ludington, Michigan to Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

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This year, the Badger is sailing it over to Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin for a propeller shaft repair. During the winter months, crew members spend hours daily making repairs ahead of the upcoming season.

Maintenance is expected to wrap up just before the first sail on May 16.

The SS Badger originally carried rail cars across Lake Michigan. Today, it carries passengers and their vehicles.