Courtesy Photo The M/V Paul R. Tregurtha is seen on the water in this undated courtesy photo taken by Andrew Dean Detroit Aerial Photography.

During the peak shipping season, the Great Lakes region has well over 100 bulk carrier, self-unloading, straight-deck freighters, and tug-barges traversing the lakes, rivers, and canals. A number of these freighters fly under the flags of Algoma Central Corporation, American Steamship Company, Canada Steamship Line, Central Marine Logistics, McKeil Marine, and The Interlake Steamship Company.

According to the Environmental Education for Kids – Great Lakes heading website, during shipping season well over 800 ocean vessels also travel through the Great Lakes.

Across the Great Lakes, there are 110 commercial American and Canadian ports.

During the shipping season, 200 million tons of cargo are transported on the Great Lakes and Seaway System.

American and Canadian statistical data notes onboard and onshore over 290,000 jobs are associated with Great Lakes shipping.

Where and what occurs for a freighter during winter lay-up?

Winter lay-up: It is more than just showing up

As the shipping season winds down early to mid-January, the Lakers have a variety of ports they can conduct winter lay-up. The majority are located within Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, and two Canadian provinces.

According to Chrissy Kadleck, Director of Communications with the Ohio-based The Interlake Steamship Company, selecting a winter lay-up port is a meticulous process.

She detailed the lay-up port selection process by stating, “What upgrades and repairs are needed during winter work, what parts and materials are required, availability of cranes, a drydock and the skilled labor are the primary process.”

Kadleck added, “At the end of the shipping season, those plans can be adjusted on where our customers need their final cargos delivered, where the freighter is located on the lakes, and if the freighter is above or below the Soo Locks, as well as weather and ice conditions all come into play.”

Winter lay-up for the M/V Paul R. Tregurtha

In a recent video, Mark Evenson of Door County Drone stated, “When freighters prepare to arrive at Sturgeon Bay’s Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, they face winter winds and ice, as well as challenging currents.”

He continued, “Especially for thousand footers, longer than three football fields, the freighters enter through the shipping canal, pass bridges, and ease into a berth or drydock. It is a symphony of motion conducted by freighter captains and crews, pilots, and tugboat captains and crews conducting a safe process.”

This winter 1,013.5-foot M/V Paul R. Tregurtha (known as the Queen of the Lakes) was one of four Interlake freighters at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding. The three other thousand footers were the M/V James R. Barker, Mesabi Miner, and Stewart J. Cort. Also, another thousand-footer in port, was the American Steamship Company’s M/V Burns Harbor.

Launched in 1981, the Tregurtha was in for routine drydock inspection, as well as a mandated United States Coast Guard and American Bureau of Shipping five-year inspection.

When on the Great Lakes, the Tregurtha has a crew that can range from 21 to 28. The crew size can increase with mariners onboard for training and cadets completing sea time.

Kadleck commented, “Typically, while in winter lay-up the onboard crew is comprised of two ship keepers and depending on winter work projects additional engineers, shipyard workers, contractors, and, at times with a galley member preparing meals.”

In addition, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding maintains a security force within a gated environment.

Kadleck revealed that Tregurtha’s five-year inspection involved the following drydock inspections:

∫ Rudder and Rudder Bearing inspections and repairs

∫ Propulsion shafting and bearings inspections and repairs

∫ Propeller and propeller system inspections and repairs

∫ Hull Structural survey and repairs

∫ Hull sandblasting and painting

∫ Anchor and anchor chain inspection, cleaning and painting and repairs

∫ Sea chest cleaning, inspection, repairs and painting

∫ Sea valve inspection, testing and repairs

She noted the other inspections which were completed on the Tregurtha include:

∫ Internal hull and ballast tank structural surveys and repairs

∫ Cargo hold surveys and repairs

∫ Weather deck survey and repairs

∫ Electrical system inspections and repairs

∫ Machinery surveys, testing and repairs

∫ Lifeboat and rescue inspections, maintenance and testing

∫ Cargo boom inspection and load testing

∫ Hatch cover testing, inspections and repairs

∫ Watertight and weathertight testing, inspection and repairs

∫ CO2 fixed fire protection system inspection, testing, and certification

∫ Fire detection system inspection, testing, and certification

Kadleck concluded, “In addition to the five-year inspection and survey items performed, other notable winter work on the Tregurtha included:”

∫ Main engine work

∫ Main reduction gear inspections and maintenance.

∫ Large steel renewal projects within the cargo holds

∫ Regulatory-required SASH (video surveillance) cameras are being installed on the vessel in accordance with the Safer Seas Act.

∫ The winter crews on board have all of the regular maintenance items to perform on the equipment to prepare for another season as well as our in-house diesel technician completing a major overhaul on the #1 ships service generator. In addition, an in-house electrical technician performs maintenance and checks on all electrical motors and circuits.

When the Soo Locks opened in late March, the Tregurtha joined the Great Lakes and “salties” (ocean vessels) transporting iron ore, coal, grain, cement, bulk liquid, salt, wind turbines, vehicles, machinery, and numerous other goods.

For detailed information on Great Lakes shipping, freighters, photos, videos, shipping routes, and cargo, along with related information, visit the websites or Facebook pages of Boat Nerd, Shipwatcher News, Door County Drones, Andrew Dean Detroit Drone Services, Sault Sainte Marie Locks, and the Lake Carriers’ Association.

Jeffrey D. Brasie is a retired health care CEO. He frequently writes historic feature stories and op-eds for various Michigan newspapers. As a Vietnam-era veteran, he served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Naval Reserve. He served on the public affairs staff of the Secretary of the Navy. He grew up in Alpena and resides in suburban Detroit.

SHIP PROFILES

The M/V Paul R. Tregurtha

∫ The freighter was built by Lorain. Ohio’s American Ship Building Company.

∫ The vessel entered the Great Lakes on May 10, 1981, originally under the name, William J. DeLancey

∫ The overall length is 1,013.5 feet with a beam of 105 feet

∫ Carrying capacity is 68,000 gross tons

∫ With a bow thruster of 1,500 hp the freighter is powered by two diesel engines offering 8,160 hp

∫ Typical cargo is taconite pellets or coal

∫ The five cargo holds are served by an onboard 260-foot boom unloading system

∫ Maintains the reigning title as “Queen of the Lakes”

The Interlake Steamship Company

∫ Established in 1913, the company is headquartered in Middleburg Heights, Ohio with over 350 shoreside and shipboard employees

∫ The company has ten Great Lake freighters ranging in length from 639 to over 1,000 feet

∫ On an annual basis the fleet moves 20 million gross tons of goods

∫ Annual fleet maintenance and capital improvements are tens of million dollars