The Mesabi Miner, perhaps to the credit of the owners (Interlake Steamship, Richfield. OH), was not named after a former/deceased (or sometimes even alive and active) company official. It was named to honor the people who made the Great Lakes shipping industry possible - the workers on the Mesabi iron range in Minnesota, who produce the taconite (iron pellets), without which Interlake would have had no use for this ship. Built in 1977 in Loraine, OH, the "Miner" is very similar to her sister-ship, the James R. Barker. Like the Barker, the Mesabi Miner is equipped with two Pielstick V-16 Diesel engines driving two propellers (17 feet in diameter), and a bow thruster.