Great Lakes' Longest Ship Freed After Grounding

The Great Lakes’ largest working bulker has been freed after running aground in Duluth, Minnesota over the weekend.

After spending four hours aground, the ship was set free by two Coast Guard tugboats.

The 69,000-dwt Paul R. Tregurtha, built in 1981, got stuck on Saturday afternoon off Bayfront Festival Park. The vessel – operated by the Interlake Steamship Company – was later moved to Duluth Seaway Port Terminal for inspection by the U.S. Coast Guard.

One report stated that ‘The Queen of the Lakes’ was departing with a full load of coal when it failed to complete the turn toward the Aerial Lift Bridge. A spokeswoman for the Duluth Seaway Port Authority said it was making the turn to go under the lift bridge, but didn’t turn; it went straight toward Bayfront Park.

Eyewitnesses stated that the historic freighter was trying to avoid a smaller craft in the shipping channel.

The ship is fully laden with 68,000 tons of coal. No injuries or pollution were reported. Damage to the ship was not specified.

At 1013.5 feet, Interlake's flagship M/V Paul R. Tregurtha is the longest ship on the Great Lakes. She can carry up to 68,000 gross tons of taconite pellets or 71,000 net tons of coal.  Her unloading system and 260-foot boom empty her five cargo holds in about eight hours. Built by American Ship Building Company at Lorain, Ohio, this vessel was first named William J. DeLancey.  In 1990, she was renamed Paul R. Tregurtha in honor of Interlake's Vice Chairman of the Board.