McKeil’s new Northern Venture makes Lake Erie debut
Northern Venture, McKeil Marine Ltd.’s newest vessel, passed through the Welland Canal Wednesday headed for Fairport, OH. Last year McKeil Marine purchased the M/V Da Shen and has been busy having it retrofitted. She is the first self-unloader in their fleet and will mainly be operating in the northern Great Lakes.
Badger gets go-ahead to repair dock infrastructure
LUDINGTON, Mich. — The S.S. Badger is closer to running again for the 2024 season. Lake Michigan Carferry, which operates the iconic ferry, announced Wednesday it has obtained the last of the needed permits to rebuild the Badger’s dock infrastructure.
The news comes several months after trips across Lake Michigan were suspended due to an issue with the Badger’s ramping system. Work to build new counterweight rigs might begin this week.
“We’re very excited to receive the much-anticipated federal and state permits to start construction on the lifting mechanism for the apron here in Ludington,” says General Manager Sara Spore. “It’s a major step forward in the concerted effort to get the Badger back underway to serve our port communities and carry passengers and transport freight across our marine highway on Lake Michigan.”
Al Bufka Construction Inc. will begin preparing for the demolition of the Badger’s counterweight on its port side, according to Lake Michigan Carferry. Meanwhile, The King Construction Co. and Underwater Construction Corporation will address the work that needs to be done below water before ice forms this winter.
Fox West Michigan
Interlake’s James R. and Mark W. Barker earn maritime heritage service award
James R. Barker and Mark W. Barker were honored last week with the 2023 The National Maritime Historical Society Distinguished Service Award in recognition of their expertise in marine transportation and their work preserving the maritime heritage of the Great Lakes. The society was particularly impressed that Interlake has acquired the historic ferry SS Badger, the last coal-fired passenger vessel operating on the Great Lakes, a National Historic Landmark and an icon on Lake Michigan since 1953.
“We applaud the Interlake Steamship Company’s commitment to ensure their fleet is at the forefront of technology and environmental stewardship by reducing air emissions, protecting waterways, and minimizing the environmental footprint while delivering essential cargoes to drive the economy of the Great Lakes region and the nation,” said HMHS in a press release
“As Chairman of the Interlake Steamship Company, James R. Barker leads the largest privately held US flag fleet on the Great Lakes. President Mark W. Barker is a strong leader with a clear voice on industry issues at the state and national levels. The Interlake Steamship Company is US-built, US-owned, and US-crewed—critical for our country, and for our national security.
“The Society congratulates Mark Barker on the 639-foot M/V Mark Barker, the first large bulk freighter constructed in the US for use on the Great Lakes since 1983. We are particularly impressed that Interlake has acquired the historic ferry SS Badger, the last coal-fired passenger vessel operating on the Great Lakes, a National Historic Landmark and an icon on Lake Michigan since 1953. We recognize Mark Barker’s contributions to maritime heritage as chairman of the National Museum of the Great Lakes.”
The Interlake Steamship Company is a family-owned company tracing its history of more than 100 years on the Great Lakes.
The National Maritime Historical Society
Today’s Virtual Visitor Center features Fitzgerald program
Shipwreck Historian Ric Mixter is one of the few people who have visited the Edmund Fitzgerald’s wreck site in person. He joins us in the Virtual Visitor Center to share more than 20 years of research into the career and tragic loss of this ship. Ric will share first hand accounts of Capt. McSorely’s reputation as a “heavy weather sailor” and examine investigations into the Fitzgerald’s loss. The program will be recorded, but join us in person November 2 at 12:30 ET to hear Ric’s insights into the tragic sinking and to ask questions.
https://meet.goto.com/VirtualVisitorCenter/fitzgerald
