STURGEON BAY, WIS — The newest freighter to ply the Great Lakes began her maiden voyage today; a trip from Wisconsin to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to load stone that will be used to make ready-mix making concrete.
The Mark W. Barker, a 639-foot ship built for the Interlake Steamship Company, left Sturgeon Bay, Wis., at 10:36 a.m. Central Time on Wednesday, July 27, for a 110-mile voyage north to Port Inland, Mich., where the vessel will load stone and then deliver it to Muskegon.
“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 Interlake and the vessel’s namesake.
The Barker is the first U.S.-flagged Great Lakes cargo ship since 1983 to be built in the region and is also the first built for Ohio-based Interlake in 40 years.
Construction began in August 2019. The ship was built at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay.
The ship has been undergoing seaworthiness trials this month. The ship was launched on Oct. 28. 2021. The keel was laid on June 23, 2020. It is the tenth ship in the Interlake fleet.
The Mark W. Barker is a “river class” vessel that’s shorter than the modern “1,000-footers.” The Barker is closer in length to some of the so-called “classic lakers” built around World War II, which still carry cargo around the Great Lakes.
A self-unloading bulk carrier, the ship will transport raw materials such as salt, iron ore, and stone to support manufacturing around the Great Lakes region.
“The construction of this vessel, which was made from steel manufactured in Indiana, from iron ore delivered by vessel from Minnesota, reinforces our long-term commitment to shipping and delivering essential cargoes for our customers throughout the region,” said Barker.
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