Last week a U.S. shipyard on the Great Lakes did something sadly unusual: it launched a new commercial ship. Called the Mark W. Barker, the self-unloading freighter—which still requires a bit more work—is slated for delivery next spring. When that happens, it will be the first new ship added to the U.S.-flagged Great Lakes fleet since 1983.
Put another way, the last time the Great Lakes fleet saw a new ship was the same year Michael Jackson unveiled the moonwalk and the first cell phone was released for commercial use.
In sharp contrast, Canada’s own Great Lakes fleet has been adding new ships at an impressive pace. Canada Steamship Lines (CSL), for example, has taken delivery of six new freighters in the last 10 years while Algoma Central Corporation has added eleven. And more ships are on the way.
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