VESSEL OF THE MONTH

M/V Mark W. Barker: First newbuild Great Laker in 40 years is no echo of the past

Nearly three years after the first cut of steel at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, the first Great Lakes freighter to be built in almost 40 years, the 639-foot M/V Mark W. Barker is now in operation with The Interlake

Steamship Company.

“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,” Mark

Barker, president of The Interlake Steamship Company and namesake of the vessel, said as it departed on its maiden voyage. “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.”

Interlake’s first new build since 1981, the modern laker is very far from being a repeat of the vessels built four or more decades ago.

The M/V Mark W. Barker is the first ship on the Great Lakes with engines that meet EPA Tier 4 emissions standards. It is powered by twin EMD main engines generating 8,000 total horsepower and turning a single four-blade, controllable-pitch propeller through a Lufkin twin-input, single-output gearbox. It is outfitted with 1,000-hp Kongsberg bow and stern thrusters and a Kongsberg highlift rudder optimizes the wake through the vessel’s controllable pitch propeller.

Measuring 639 feet in length and 78 feet wide and 45 feet high, the 28,000-dwt ship will carry all types of cargo throughout the freshwater Lakes and River systems and has been designed to navigate the tight bends of the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland.

Her hull has been optimized for efficiency and all systems have been designed to ensure low energy consumption. A Kongsberg high-lift rudder optimizes the wake through the propeller.

The Interlake Steamship Company, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, and Bay Engineering jointly designed the bulk carrier, complete with advanced vessel and unloading systems automation.

Five large hydraulically controlled stackable MacGregor hatch covers, more usually found on ocean-going vessels, offer enhanced flexibility for project cargoes and expedite loading operations.

Unlike most Great Lakes freighters, the M/V Mark W. Barker has a square-shaped, flat-bottomed cargo hold instead of a traditional V-shaped hold 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 wind-turbine blades and project cargo.

In addition, the unloading boom is located on the forward end of the ship, offering flexibility for cargo operations in congested ports. Many Great Lakes customers find the forward boom more advantageous to allow placement of cargoes in preferred areas for access at their docks.

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