By Chris Winters

Vince Hagman, the M/V MARK W. BARKER‘s first mate & relief captain checks draft marks before departing with the vessel’s first cargo, Port Inland, Michigan, July 2022.

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The MARK W. BARKER was the first Great Lakes bulk carrier to be built on the Great Lakes in more than 35 years.  Built in 2022 at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., she was also the first new build for Interlake since 1981.  The 639 foot BARKER is named for Interlake’s President.

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Chris Winters is a Trustee and Vice President of the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society, a well-known author and has been a photojournalist for over 25 years.  He and his cameras have enjoyed a privileged glimpse into the lives of merchant mariners aboard some of the Great Lakes best-known and best-loved vessels.