(WWJ) - The first U.S.-flagged Great Lakes bulk carrier in almost 40 years can now be spotted sailing the Great Lakes after embarking on her maiden voyage over a month ago.
The Interlake Steamship Co. said in a press release they christened the 639 ft. vessel, the M/V Mark W. Barker, in late July before she departed Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin nearly three years after construction began.
“This is a monumental day for our company and the U.S. flag fleet as our much-anticipated freighter departs on her first voyage in what will be a long life of service on the Great Lakes,” said Mark W. Barker, President of The Interlake Steamship Company and namesake of the ship.
Barker said the ship -- which is made from from steel manufactured in Indiana and iron ore from Minnesota -- reinforces the company's "long-term commitment to shipping and delivering essential cargoes for our customers throughout the region.”
The vessel is the company's first new build since 1981.
While its length makes the Mark W. Barker the smallest ship in the fleet, it has a unique characteristic suited to carry a load much larger than other Great Lakes freighters.
The Mark W. Barker boasts a square-shaped, flat bottomed cargo hold which gives it a carrying capacity of 26,000 gross tons more than two other ships the company owns.
The M/V Kaye E. Barker may be 767 feet long, but falls short with a 25,900 gross tons of carrying capacity. The other ship, the M/V Herbert Jackson, is 690 feet long, but can only carry 24,800 gross tons.
“This new vessel not only brings with it additional cargo carrying capacity and capabilities, it is the most versatile in our fleet and strategically sized to navigate into nearly any port on the Great Lakes,” says Brendan P. O’Connor, Vice President of Marketing and Marine Traffic. “The M/V Mark W. Barker will give us unmatched ability for cargo operations and to carry unique project cargoes because of both her square-shaped cargo hold and larger hatch openings. She truly was designed to be a vessel for the future.”
The Interlake Steamship Co. wasted no time putting the Mark W. Barker to work. On her maiden voyage, her 21 crew members sailed to Port Inland, Mich. to pick up a load of 25,000 tons of stone before delivering it to Muskegon.
The company said it was proud of the hundreds of dedicated workers at the Sturgeon Bay shipyard that constructed the Mark W. Barker.
“We couldn’t be prouder to add this skillfully constructed vessel to our growing Interlake fleet,” said Barker. “It has been genuinely inspiring to see the dedication and workmanship from all of those involved in this multi-year project, from the design, construction, final outfitting and successful sea trials. We are thrilled to add our newest US-crewed, US-built and US-owned vessel to the Great Lakes fleet.”
The Interlake Steamship Co. is a family-owned and operated business in Middleburg Heights, Ohio. Other ships in the fleet include the M/V James R. Barker and the M/V Kaye E. Barker, named for Barker's mother and father respectively.
In the beginning of last year, the Interlake Steamship Co. purchased the coal-fired ferry SS Badger. The ship is known for ferrying people and vehicles across the waters of Lake Michigan from Manitowoc, Wisconsin to Ludington and back.