Mark W. Barker
2022-Present
Specs
Build Information
Year Built: 2022
Builder: Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, Sturgeon Bay, WI
Hull #788
Registry: U.S. 1326772
IMO #9962445
Laid Down: June 23, 2020
Launch Date: October 28, 2021
Commissioned: July 27, 2022
Construction
The Mark W. Barker was constructed in 2022 by Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, as a self-unloading river-class bulk carrier for the Interlake Steamship Company. She was the first self-powered American freighter to be constructed for Great Lakes service in almost 40 years, the latest being the Columbia Star [American Century, 2006;] of 1981.
The Barker was designed to be a unique and versatile ship, being designed to River class dimensions to allow her to transit confined waterways, with a forward mounted self-unloading boom for added versatility. Her self-unloading system will consist of a single hold belt leading to a forward loop-belt system that feeds a 250′ deck-mounted boom. Her holds will not have any slopes installed, and will utilize a pair of front-end loaders to move cargo to the conveyor belt. She will feature five large cargo hatches, leading to her cargo hold. The new ship will be environmentally friendly, being built to EPA and IMO standards. She features bow and stern thrusters, being pushed by a single controllable pitch propeller followed by a single flap rudder.
General Stats
Length Overall: 639′
Length Between Perpendiculars: 627’03”
Breadth: 78′
Depth: 45′
Loaded Draft: 29’02”
Capacity: 29,377 tons
Vessel Type: Loop-Belt Self-Unloader
Self-Unloading Boom Length: 260′
Number of Cargo Holds: 2 [Hatch-Hold Arrangement: 2-3]
Number of Hatches: 5 [Dimensions: 80’x54′]
Primary Operations: stone, salt, ore trades
Propellers: 1 Controllable Pitch Propeller
Rudders: 1 Flap Rudder
Engineering Equipment
Original
Engine
Engine Type: Diesel Engine
Engine Manufacturer: Caterpillar Electro-Motive Diesel, LaGrange, IL
Engine Model: 16 ME23B; 16-Cylinder
Number of Engines: 2
Rated HP: 7800 BHP
History
Lineage
Mark W. Barker – 2022-Present
Owner: Interlake Steamship Co., Middleburg Heights, OH
Operator: Interlake Steamship Co.
Flag: United States
Home Port: Cleveland, OH
Her Story
The Mark W. Barker was constructed in 2022 by Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, as a self-unloading river-class bulk carrier for the Interlake Steamship Company. She was the first self-powered American freighter to be constructed for Great Lakes service in almost 40 years, the latest being the Columbia Star [American Century, 2006;] of 1981.
The keel for the Mark W. Barker was laid in ceremonies on June 23, 2020. The partially-completed hull was floated from drydock for the winter on December 17, 2020, to allow ships in winter layup to be drydocked. A large portion of the hull was completed, at approximately 440′ long. The hull was moved to a berth at Bay Shipbuilding for the winter. She was placed back in the graving dock in the spring to complete the hull, which was launched on October 28, 2021, and moored at a berth in the shipyard. At the time of launch, her exterior hull was almost entirely complete, and work on the interior of the vessel was quickly progressing.
Trials were underway for the Barker by late June. After trials were completed, the Barker departed Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding on July 27, 2022, on her maiden voyage, bound for Port Inland, MI, to load limestone for delivery to Muskegon, MI. On September 1, 2022, she was officially christened at Cleveland, OH, by sponsor Megan November. Mark W. Barker is active in the stone, ore, and salt trades.
Compiled By Brendan Falkowski
Updated on April 18, 2023
Gallery
Sources
Greenwood’s Guide to Great Lakes Shipping 2022, Harbor House Publishers, 2022. Pp. 3.5, 10.4.
“Interlake New Build”. Great Lakes & Seaway Shipping Online. N.d. Accessed 24 June 2020. http://boatnerd.com/pictures/fleet/InterlakeNewBuild.htm
“Keel Laid and Name Revealed for New Great Lakes Bulk Carrier”. Interlake Steamship Company. 23 June 2020. Accessed 24 June 2020. http://www.interlake-steamship.com/media/newsroom/keel-laid-and-name-revealed-for-interlakes-new-great-lakes-bulk-carrier
LeLievre, Roger. Know Your Ships 2023. Marine Publishing, 2023. Pp. 59.
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