Nearly three years after the first cut of steel for the first Great Lakes freighter in nearly 40 years, the 639-foot modern laker M/V Mark W. Barker has completed sea trials and yesterday embarked on her maiden voyage from Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding.
“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,” said Mark W. Barker, president of The Interlake Steamship...