Two of the most important shipping companies in the Great Lakes are working on their tonnage capacity.[ds_preview]
Half a year after the commissioning of the latest ice-breaking ship »Arvik I«, Fednav, which is also well known in European waters, entered the newbuilding market again. Ten new seagoing »Lakers« will be built at the Oshima Shipyard (Japan), with the first one to be delivered in mid-2023. Fednav operates a fleet of Lakers, as well as bulkers in Handysize, Supramax and Ultramax classes – a total of 120 ships, some of which also call at German ports such as Brake and Bremen in regular service. Project, breakbulk and MPP cargoes are also transported via the Fednav Atlantic Lakes Line (FAL Line) segment. The newbuildings are described as »super eco-lakers« whose carbon dioxide emissions are to be 33 % lower than those of the ships they will replace. Nitrogen oxide emissions are expected to be reduced by 87 %. They will be equipped with the latest technology, including Tier III engines and the ability to burn biofuels.
In the meantime the Interlake Steamship Company saw the launch of its new 639-foot »Mark W. Barker« at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. It is described as the first U.S.-flagged Great Lakes freighter to be built on the Great Lakes in nearly 40 years. It is the first new ship constructed for Interlake Steamship since 1981 – expected to be complete and underway in Spring 2022. The self-unloading bulk carrier (28,000 tdw) will transport raw materials such as salt, iron ore, and stone to support manufacturing throughout the Great Lakes region. Interlake Steamship Company, based in Middleburg Heights, Ohio, is the largest privately owned US shipping company on the Great Lakes. The company currently operates a fleet of nine vessels. MM
© Fednav
