April 9, 2019 – Duluth News Tribune
The first U.S.-flag laker to be built this century was commissioned this week and figures to be completed by mid-2022. The new “river-class” vessel will be built to transit the Great Lakes and service customers in some of the smaller harbors found in the rivers connecting the lakes. Commissioned by Interlake Steamship Company, based outside Cleveland, the 639-foot carrier capable of hauling 28,000 gross tons will be built in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., by Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding. Both companies have 100-plus years of history on the Great Lakes. “We’re proud to add it, announce it and ensure we serve our customers for years to come,” Interlake Steamship President Mark Barker told the News Tribune. “It’s being built with a lot of steel from Great Lakes steel mills to carry the products that help to do just that.”