MV Mark W. Barker

MV Mark W. Barker is a large diesel-powered lake freighter owned and operated by the Interlake Steamship Company. She is the first of the River-class freighters constructed for an American shipping company.[2][3] MV Mark W. Barker is the first ship on the Great Lakes to be powered with engines that meet EPA Tier 4 standards.[4][5] It is the first U.S.-flagged, Jones Act-compliant ship built on the Great Lakes since 1983.[6]

MV Mark W. Barker on the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio, October 2022
History
United States
NameMV Mark W. Barker
NamesakeInterlake Steamship Company President Mark W. Barker
OperatorInterlake Steamship Company
BuilderBay Shipbuilding Company
Launched1 July 2022
Christened1 September 2022
In service27 July 2022
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics
Class and typeLake freighter
Tonnage26,000 GT
Length639 ft (195 m) (overall)
Beam78 ft (24 m)
Installed power16,000 hp (12,000 kW)
PropulsionTwo Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) diesel engines
Speed15 miles per hour (13 kn; 24 km/h)[1]
Crew16–17

Description

The vessel was built by Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.[1] Construction began in mid-2019.[7] Her self-unloader was SS American Victory's boom that was taken off before the ship was scrapped.[8] The ship is 639 feet (195 m) long and has a 78-foot (24 m) beam, with a carrying capacity of 26,000 tons deadweight (DWT).[9][10] She is designed to carry bulk cargo such as taconite, salt, or limestone, as well as other loads like wind turbine blades.[1][11] MV Mark W. Barker is powered by two 8,000-horsepower (6,000 kW), 16-cylinder EMD diesel engines.[9][12] In operation, she is designed for a complement of 16–17 crew.[13]

Service history

Launched in spring 2022, she became the first new American-built lake freighter since 1983, as well as Interlake's first American-built bulk freighter since 1981.[1][13] The ship underwent sea trials in June and July 2022, sailing under her own power for the first time on July 1, 2022.[7][14] On July 27, 2022, MV Mark W. Barker began her maiden voyage to Port Inland, Michigan to load stone for Muskegon, Michigan, thus entering regular service.[15] She was christened on September 1, 2022, in Cleveland, Ohio.[16]

On May 17, 2023, she ran aground in the Detroit River near Belle Isle.[17] She was refloated shortly before 12:30pm local time. [18]

References
  1. Slater, Brady (April 1, 2022). "Meet Great Lakes' newest arrival: Mark W. Barker". Duluth News Tribune. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  2. Schuyler, David (April 9, 2019). "Freighter to be built in Wisconsin shipyard will be first new U.S. flagged bulk carrier in 35 years". Milwaukee Business Journal. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020.
  3. Blenkey, Nick (June 24, 2020). "Great Lakes bulker newbuild project marks a milestone". Marine Log. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  4. "M/V Mark W. Barker". interlake-steamship.com. 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  5. "First Great Lakes-built cargo ship in nearly 40 years arrives in the Twin Ports". wpr.org. September 7, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  6. Lofton, Justine (July 6, 2022). "First new ship built for the Great Lakes in 35 years is underway". Michigan Live. Archived from the original on July 17, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  7. "Mark W. Barker". April 2021.
  8. Slater, Brady (April 1, 2022). "Box-shaped cargo hold among new ship's unique traits". Duluth News Tribune. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  9. "Mark W. Barker". www.interlake-steamship.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  10. Phillips, Anna (June 6, 2022). "Ship pollution is rising as the U.S. waits for world leaders to act". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on July 26, 2022. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  11. "Mark W. Barker". www.boatnerd.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  12. Sterrett, Craig (May 11, 2022). "Guests Tour Giant Vessels, Old and New". Door County Pulse. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  13. McCormack, Frank (June 18, 2022). "Interlake's MV Mark W. Barker Set For Sea Trials Next Week". The Waterways Journal. Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  14. Kaster, Ashley (July 27, 2022). "Great Lakes freighter departs Sturgeon Bay on maiden voyage". WLUK - FOX 11. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  15. The Interlake Steamship Company [user] (September 1, 2022). The Christening of the Motor Vessel Mark W. Barker (Video). YouTube. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  16. "Freighter runs aground in Detroit River near Belle Isle". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  17. "Freighter runs aground in Detroit: Live stream shows ship stuck along U.S.-Canada border". USA TODAY. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
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