By James Heinz
Recently while passing by Jones Island, the site of Milwaukee’s harbor, I saw the newest ship on the Great Lakes unloading salt on the west side of the island.
The MARK W. BARKER is the first American ship built on the Great Lakes since 1983. She was the first new build for her owners, Interlake Steamship Company. From 2019 to 2022 she was under construction at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. Launched in the spring of 2022, she loaded her first cargo in July 2022 and was christened in September of that year.
The BARKER is made of steel and displaces 26,000 gross tons. She is 639 feet long and 78 feet wide. Her two 8,000 hp EMD diesel engines drive her at 15 mph.
Her official web site describes some of her unique features: “Unlike most Great Lakes freighters, the Mark W. Barker has a square-shaped, flat-bottomed cargo hold instead of a traditional V-shaped angled bottom that funnels bulk cargo onto conveyer belts for offloading.
“The combination of larger hatch openings and additional cargo hold space was designed with future cargoes in mind to include non-free-flowing bulk material such as wind-turbine blades. In addition, the unloading boom is located on the forward end of the ship, offering flexibility for cargo operations in congested ports.”
In an example of recycling on a grand scale, her unloading boom was salvaged from the SS AMERICAN VICTORY.
BARKER’s other unique features are that she can navigate the legendary twists and turns of Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River, and her holds are lined with vinyl to prevent road salt from corroding her hull.
And, unloading salt was what she was doing when I saw her at Jones Island the other day.
Photos by James Heinz
This story was originally posted July 15, 2024
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James Heinz is the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society’s acquisitions director. He became interested in maritime history as a kid watching Jacques Cousteau’s adventures on TV. He was a Great Lakes wreck diver until three episodes of the bends forced him to retire from diving. He was a University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee police officer for thirty years. He regularly flies either a Cessna 152 or 172.
