November 11, 2023
We are especially thankful and proud to employ many veterans in our company and throughout our fleet. Their brave service and sacrifice to our country is admirable and awe-inspiring. In honor of Veteran’s Day today, we are highlighting one of their stories. Meet Ashlea Sikon, U.S. Army Veteran
July 27, 2022
Nearly three years after the first cut of steel for the first Great Lakes freighter in nearly 40 years, the 639-foot M/V Mark W. Barker embarked on her maiden voyage today from Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding. “This is a monumental day for our company and the US 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,” says Mark W. Barker, President of The Interlake Steamship Company and namesake of the vessel – the company’s first new build since 1981. “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.” The M/V Mark W. Barker departed the Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin shipyard at 10:36 Eastern time for her 110-mile journey to Port Inland, Michigan where her crew of 21 professional mariners will load stone to deliver to Muskegon, Michigan. Once delivered, that stone cargo will go into ready-mix concrete production.-355-1636643237.jpg)
November 11, 2021
Hailing from a fiercely patriotic family, Sam Allgood did what four generations of men and women in his family had done: he served his country. “My brother was in the Army. My sister was in the Marines. My dad was in the Navy. I had a grandpa who was a general in the Army for 30 years” says Allgood, now 48. “So the service was just definitely a part of my life long before I joined the military.”
October 28, 2021
Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and The Interlake Steamship Company hosted a launch ceremony Thursday, marking the latest milestone for the new 639-foot M/V Mark W. Barker. The first U.S.-flagged Great Lakes bulk carrier to be built on the Great Lakes in nearly 40 years, the M/V Mark W. Barker – while still under construction – was “launched” or otherwise floated out of the graving dock at the Sturgeon Bay shipyard.
July 9, 2021
Welcome to the first edition of the Interlake Maritime Services LOG, our new company-wide newsletter. The Interlake LOG was first published in the 1930s, originally as a safety newsletter. It has evolved over the years to include not only notable happenings in our fleet but also stories about those who power our company and the Great Lakes shipping industry. We hope you enjoy this publication!
December 30, 2020
Interlake Holding Company announced today the purchase of the assets of Pere Marquette Shipping Company and Lake Michigan Car Ferry Company in an acquisition that includes two working Great Lakes vessels, the Articulated Tug-Barge Undaunted-Pere Marquette 41 and the S.S. Badger, a historic passenger-and-car ferry.
November 11, 2020
Always mechanically inclined, Dan Seewald, Jr. knew when he graduated from high school that college wasn’t for him and neither was his current job as a cook at Wendy’s. Then 19, Seewald’s first stop in the Coast Guard was boot camp in Alameda, California. From there he spent four months in MK school to be a machinery technician. This was where he received his basic engineering training that would be the foundation of his 40-year career that has spanned both the public and private sector of the maritime industry.
September 25, 2020
We're excited to share the latest news about our unstoppable U.S. Flag fleet which has been crisscrossing the Great Lakes for more than 100 years, proudly delivering the essential raw materials that keep America's economy afloat. Click the link below to stay on board with all our recent happenings and to learn more about the people who power our fleet!
June 23, 2020
STURGEON BAY, WISCONSIN, June 23, 2020: Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and The Interlake Steamship Company hosted a ceremonial keel laying Tuesday, celebrating the historic start of assembly on the first U.S.-flagged Great Lakes bulk carrier built in more than 35 years.
May 29, 2020
We're excited to be relaunching The Interlake Log back into circulation. The Log has traditionally been a way to communicate and share events and news of what is happening at Interlake. We hope you enjoy the stories about our people and our fleet!
March 28, 2020
Gus Schauer has been photographing Lakers for half of his life, seven years to be exact. The 14-year-old from Duluth, Minnesota, is easily one of the most talented shutterbugs on the North Shore regularly capturing spectacular shots and enviable vantage points of the boats that sail in and out of the Twin Ports. “My dad would bring me down to the Canal a few times, and once I started hearing those ship salutes, I immediately got hooked,” says Gus, who is in eighth grade at Stella Maris Academy in Duluth. “I like when the bridge responds and then all the people get excited when they hear it. I just think that's a cool tradition that's kept on the lakes throughout the years.” He has continually upgraded his skills and equipment since then, following in the photography footsteps of his dad and boat-and train-chasing buddy David Schauer.
November 11, 2019
When Kyle Evanchuck enlisted in the U.S. Navy at 21, he planned to devote his career to the military branch, proudly serve his country and leverage the travel and advancement opportunities in the armed forces. After 10 years of service, earning multiple degrees -- a bachelor’s degree from the University of Toledo, an executive certificate from the University of Notre Dame, and a master’s degree from Columbia Southern University, marrying his wife, Leah, and the birth of their daughter, Emma, Kyle found himself seriously considering pursing a permanent shoreside job. “Couple all that with my wife having a great job and us wanting to plant some roots in Ohio, it became clear to me over time that I was ready to transition out of the Navy and pursue a civilian career,” says Kyle, 32, who was first a part of the Navy’s Submarine Force, stationed on the USS MISSISSIPPI – SSN 782. This fall, Kyle did just that. He left his shoreside duty as program manager for Navy Recruiting District Ohio to join The Interlake Steamship Company as its newly created Manager of Recruitment and Onboarding. We talked with Kyle about his new position, how his skills in the military transfer to the private sector, his recruiting plans and specifically how he hopes to attract more military members into the maritime industry.
August 14, 2019
Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and The Interlake Steamship Company hosted a ceremonial first-cut-of-steel event Wednesday, celebrating the historic start of construction on the first U.S.-flagged Great Lakes bulk carrier built in more than 35 years. After careful preparation by Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding’s blast and prime team, its fabrication team prepped and then cut the steel with automated precision within the shipyard’s largest fabrication building in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. “The first cut of steel is a major milestone that signifies we, along with Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, are ready to begin production on this historic project,” says Interlake President Mark W. Barker. “We are extremely proud to build our company’s first ship since 1981 on these freshwater shores with the hardworking women and men who help power our industry and with American-made steel from the iron ore we carry on our U.S. flag fleet vessels. It’s a true Great Lakes success story.”
April 9, 2019
STURGEON BAY, WISCONSIN, April 9, 2019: A U.S.-flagged Great Lakes bulk carrier will be built for the first time in more than 35 years thanks to a historic agreement recently signed between The Interlake Steamship Company and Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding. The new River-Class, self-unloading bulk carrier is believed to be the first ship for U.S. Great Lakes service built on the Great Lakes since 1983. The ship, which will transport raw materials to support manufacturing throughout the Great Lakes region, also represents hundreds of good-paying jobs for U.S. Merchant Mariners and Wisconsin shipyard workers.
December 1, 2018
Jane Herrick is synonymous with freighter watching in her hometown of Duluth, Minn. One of the Twin Ports’ most prolific photographers, Herrick regularly wakes before most of us to head to her happy place on the shores of Lake Superior. There, alongside the dynamic freshwater of the largest of our Great Lakes, she captures remarkable sunrises, stunning shots of freighters and fabulous videos of salutes at the iconic Aerial Lift Bridge. “It's a passion. I mean, I love those boats,” says Herrick, who retired several years ago and struggles with a health condition that causes fatigue. She now devotes her early-day energy to chasing ships and documenting dazzling daybreaks. “You lose something, and if you look, you find something else.
November 15, 2018
A first-of-its-kind initiative between the United States Coast Guard and Lake Carriers’ Association has had MH-65 Dolphins and MH-60 Jayhawks whirring above Interlake Steamship Company vessels since May. The rescue exercises, intended to simulate real-life medical evacuations, are the result of a joint agreement between the two maritime organizations which became official Oct. 31, 2017. “The experience gained by both Coast Guard and Lake Carriers’ crews will greatly enhance both organizations’ capabilities,” Rear Admiral Joanna M. Nunan, commander, 9th Coast Guard District, said at the time the agreement was announced. “The opportunity to build familiarity and proficiency with hoisting from Great Lakes commercial vessels will better prepare our pilots for hoist operations during time-critical emergencies.” Training with the USCG Air Stations in Detroit and Traverse City has been a great opportunity for both the Coast Guard crews and Interlake’s shipboard crews, says Paul Christensen, director of operations and security at Interlake, the largest privately held U.S. Flag-fleet on the Great Lakes.
November 11, 2018
When Jack Brandenburg enlisted in the U.S. Marines in 1998, he envisioned a long career serving in the elite infantry. “I wanted to sign up for 20 years right away, and my recruiter said maybe just sign up for four years right now. So I did,” says Brandenburg, now a relief mate with the Interlake Steamship Company fleet. After boot camp in San Diego, Calif., he joined Charlie company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, and did a couple of deployments pre-9/11, and one deployment post-9/11. But after breaking both of his ankles while serving in the Middle East, Brandenburg was sent back stateside for surgery. His injuries meant an end to his infantry career. Lacking the desire to take the “desk jobs” available, he opted for an early retirement in 2002 and returned to his hometown of Sturgeon Bay, Wis.
October 17, 2018
Meet Mitchell Strong. His true love since he was a little boy has been freighters. Amazed at their size, their engineering and their ability to do what seems impossible: carry as much as 70,000 tons of cargo and stay afloat. But defying the odds is something Mitchell understands personally.
September 22, 2018
We {heart} our freighter fans! In every kind of weather and at all hours of the day and night, these diehard self-proclaimed boat nerds wave us in and out of ports around the Great Lakes and from the vast and varied shorelines along the way. If they aren’t close to HOMES (remember that grade-school acronym to remember Lakes Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior?), they follow us on marine tracking apps, harbor cams, websites and our social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The love people have for freighters and our Great Lakes is a special thing and one we hope to foster. With that in mind, we think it’s high time to highlight our diverse fans and followers in a new regular feature called #SaturdaySalute that will appear on Facebook and live on our website (www.interlake-steamship.com). If you want to be featured, please message us a little about you and your love of freighters and the Great Lakes. We’re looking forward to getting to know you. But before you do that, you should get to know Brielle LeFebre, 9, from Byron Center, Michigan, and our first #SaturdaySalute!
June 25, 2018
When Kerry Pierce shared with us that she planned to have a miniature Interlake vessel atop her grad cap this spring, we had to find out more about what was driving this 23-year-old’s passion for Lakers.
April 30, 2018
The Interlake Steamship Company, through Interlake Logistics Solutions, is pleased to announce it will time charter an asset from the East Coast to operate on the Great Lakes this spring: The 418-foot Montville, a single-hold, covered hopper barge with a 14,400-short ton capacity that will be able to carry a wide variety of cargoes. The Montville barge will eventually feature a rail-mounted gantry that will support a large material handler capable of digging or lifting cargo out of the cargo hold and onto shore.
February 24, 2018
River-Class Tug/Barge Begins Shuttling Iron Ore on Cuyahoga River MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS – The Interlake Steamship Company’s Dorothy Ann-Pathfinder, an articulated tug-barge unit (ATB), departs winter layup today to begin early-season shuttles of iron ore for ArcelorMittal, a leading integrated steel and mining company with blast furnaces at the head of the Cuyahoga River. A workhorse of Interlake’s nine-vessel fleet, the 700-foot Dorothy Ann-Pathfinder is one of Interlake’s two River-Class vessels, a designation given to ships that can traverse the narrowest harbors of the Great Lakes. “We are excited to kick off our 2018 navigation season with one of the longest River-Class vessels capable of transiting the winding Cuyahoga River,” says Brendan O’Connor, Interlake’s Vice President of Marketing and Marine Traffic. “With its unique Z-drive (360-degree) propulsion systems, the Dorothy Ann-Pathfinder is the most maneuverable vessel in the U.S. Great Lakes fleet.”
November 11, 2017
Before Andy Jaworski made his living feeding hungry merchant mariners with The Interlake Steamship Company on the Great Lakes, he sailed the oceans serving in the U.S. Navy. A first-generation serviceman, Andy joined the Navy in 1983, following the lead of his three brothers. In fact, four of the five brothers – dubbed the Jaworski Naval Unit by their mother who had to pin a map to keep track of her floating brood – served at the same time. The youngest brother made his career in the Navy. In total, Jeff, Allen, Andy, Neil and Glenn Jaworski had a combined 50 years of honorable service to the country.
October 18, 2017
Lucas Karhoff, a December 2016 graduate of Great Lakes Maritime Academy, joined the Interlake fleet this season as a third assistant engineer after sailing as cadet and two seasons of winter work. We sat down with Lucas on our M/V Hon. James L. Oberstar to find out more about what attracted him to his new career and what he likes best about his job.
June 3, 2017
The 1,004-foot M/V James R. Barker sailed today from the Twin Ports with 60,000 tons of Mustang superflux pellets – the first cargo of its kind since the new pellet production began at Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.’s United Taconite mine last month.
April 24, 2017
The M/V Mesabi Miner sailed today from Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding Company in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., becoming Interlake Steamship Company’s fourth self-unloading bulk carrier to be outfitted with exhaust gas scrubbers.
September 26, 2016
The newly repowered M/V Herbert C. Jackson departed Fraser Shipyards in Superior, Wis., yesterday giving a farewell salute to the Twin Ports where it has been undergoing its steam-to-diesel conversion since December 21.
June 22, 2016
The M/V Lee A. Tregurtha sailed today from Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding Company in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., becoming Interlake Steamship Company’s third self-unloading bulk carrier to be outfitted with exhaust gas scrubbers.
June 11, 2016
The M/V James R. Barker sailed today from Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding Company in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., becoming Interlake Steamship Company’s first thousand footer and its second self-unloading bulk carrier to be outfitted with exhaust gas scrubbers.
March 1, 2016
The Interlake Steamship Company’s Dorothy Ann-Pathfinder, an articulated tug-barge unit (ATB), departs winter layup today to begin early-season shuttles of iron ore for ArcelorMittal,a leading integrated steel and mining company with blast furnaces at the head of the Cuyahoga River.-197-1507751490.jpg)
January 25, 2016
The M/V James R. Barker sailed into Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding Company in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., last week where it will become Interlake Steamship Company’s first thousand footer and its second self-unloading bulk carrier to be outfitted with exhaust gas scrubbers.
August 11, 2015
Building on the successful implementation of exhaust gas scrubbers on its self-unloading bulk carrier M/V Hon. James L. Oberstar, the Interlake Steamship Company announces its plans to expand its emission-reduction efforts to one-third of its fleet by installing similar scrubber systems on the M/V Lee A. Tregurtha and M/V James R. Barker early next year.
June 8, 2015
The Interlake Steamship Company announced today that it will repower its last steamship – the S.S. Herbert C. Jackson – with a highly automated diesel propulsion system in the final phase of a 10-year, $100 million modernization effort to create the most efficient, reliable and environmentally friendly fleet on the Great Lakes.