Interlake Steamship Company

Interlake Steamship Company

Company type	Private
Industry	Freight shipping
Founded	1913
Area served	Great Lakes, North America
Key people	James R. Barker (Chairman), Mark W. Barker (President), Paul R. Tregurtha (Vice-Chairman)
Products	Bulk raw materials and finished goods shipping
Parent	Interlake Maritime Services

The Interlake Steamship Company operates as a U.S.-based freight shipping enterprise with a fleet navigating the Great Lakes region of North America. It functions under the umbrella of Interlake Maritime Services.

Leadership is headed by Chairman James R. Barker, with his son, Mark W. Barker, holding the position of President. The role of Vice-Chairman is fulfilled by Paul R. Tregurtha.

History

Established in 1913, Interlake originated from a coalition that purchased seventeen vessels from the Gilchrist Company following its receivership. This consortium comprised the Lackawanna, Acme, Standard, Provident Steamship Companies, and the Huron Barge Company, collectively managing a fleet of 56 ships.

By the time its largest vessel, MV William J. Delancey (currently MV Paul R. Tregurtha), was introduced, the fleet had expanded to 151 ships with a combined cargo capacity exceeding three million tons.

In early 2018, Interlake broadened its operations beyond bulk raw materials by launching Interlake Logistics Solutions to include finished goods shipping. To support this expansion, the company chartered the 418-foot, 14,000 ST barge Montville.

April 2019 saw Interlake announce the construction of a 639-foot by 75-foot River-class self-unloading bulk freighter at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. This marked the first U.S.-flagged vessel built on the Great Lakes compliant with the Jones Act since 1983 and represented Interlake's first new build since 1981. The ship was officially named MV Mark W. Barker during a ceremony in Cleveland on September 1, 2022.

In December 2020, Interlake expanded its holdings by acquiring the renowned car ferry , along with tug MT Undaunted (previously USS Undaunted), deck barge ATB Pere Marquette 41 (formerly SS City of Midland 41), and sister ship (currently in long-term lay-up). This purchase was part of Interlake Holding Company's acquisition of assets from Ludington, Michigan-based Lake Michigan Car Ferry Company.

Fleet of vessels

Vessels Operated by Interlake Steamship Company

image	name	launch date	retired	notes
	ATB Pere Marquette 41	1940	1988	Articulated tug barge paired with tug MT Undaunted Originally constructed as SS City of Midland 41
	MV Lee A. Tregurtha	1942		Initially commissioned as USS Chiwawa for U.S. Navy service Later renamed SS Walter A. Sterling and SS William Clay Ford (II)
	SS Frank Armstrong	1943	1987	Fourth vessel built for U.S. Maritime Commission purposes Sold to Turkish shipbreakers for scrap in 1988
	MT Undaunted	1944		Auxiliary Fleet Tug operating on Great Lakes Originally designated USS Undaunted (ATA-199)
	SS Badger	1952		The largest and last coal-powered steam engine car ferry constructed in the U.S.
	MV Kaye E. Barker	1952		Built under the name SS Edward B. Greene, later known as SS Benson Ford (III)
	SS Spartan	1952	1979	Currently laid up long-term in Ludington, Michigan
	Dorothy Ann-Pathfinder Tug-Barge	1953		Originally launched as SS J. L. Mauthe, later renamed Pathfinder Paired with Z-drive tug Dorothy Ann since 1999
	MV Honorable James L. Oberstar	1958		Initially named SS Shenango II, subsequently renamed SS Charles M. Beeghly
	SS John Sherwin	1958	2008	Currently in long-term lay-up at Interlake Steamship Company Dock in DeTour, Michigan
	MV Herbert C. Jackson	1959		Has consistently served under Interlake Steamship Company ownership
	MV Stewart J. Cort	1972		First vessel of 1000 feet length on Great Lakes; unique for having pilothouse located forward
	MV James R. Barker	1976		Third vessel measuring 1000 feet on upper Great Lakes waters
	MV Mesabi Miner	1977		Fourth vessel of the thousand-foot class operating on upper Great Lakes
	MV Paul R. Tregurtha	1981		Thirteenth thousand-foot vessel on upper Great Lakes routes Originally launched as MV William J. Delancey Serves as flagship for Interlake Steamship Company; holds record as longest ship ever on Great Lakes Referred to as Queen of the Lakes since its commissioning in 1981
	MG Winfield Scott (LT-805)	1993	2021	Currently laid up long-term in Ludington, Michigan
	MV Mark W. Barker	2022		First locally constructed Great Lakes bulk carrier in more than three decades Equipped with EPA Tier 4 emissions-compliant engines—the first on Great Lakes vessels First Jones Act-compliant ship built on Great Lakes in forty years

External links

• Interlake Steamship Company