Unanimously known as the ‘Great Lakes’ Queen’ across the global maritime community, the M/V Paul R. Tregurtha is an unparalleled and peerless bulk carrier vessel. Commissioned over three decades ago, the biggest bulk carrier still sets a perfect epitome of absolute operational class, constructional excellence and above all, a unique value addition to the maritime operations carried on the Great lakes.
Originally built to be used as both a bulk cargo carrier and as a passenger ship, the biggest Great Lakes ship bears the constructional hallmark of the American Shipbuilding Company which built the vessel according to specifications charted by her owner, the Interlake Steamship Company.
Credits: WIMHARTER/YouTube
Unlike other ships which are constructed and outfitted at one particular shipbuilding yard, the construction of the largest bulk carrier was distinct in that, that the vessel’s prow was built at the Shipbuilding Company’s Toledo shipbuilding yard while its aft was built at their Lorain yard. The two separate portions of the vessel were then soldered to form one single vessel unit at the shipbuilding company’s Lorain yard.
M/V Paul R. Tregurtha: Features and Key Points
- The vessel was put into operation in the year 1981 and was under the operational chartering of the Republic Steel corporation
- The largest vessel on Great Lakes was originally christened as William J. De Lancey, the chairperson of the Republic Steel corporation
- Post the expiration of the clientele contract of the Interlake Steamship Company with the Republic Steel corporation, in the year 1990, the vessel was re-christened as the M/V Paul R. Tregurtha after the vice chairperson of the Interlake Conglomerate
Credits: US Army/YouTube
M/V Paul R. Tregurtha: Technical Specifications
- The operational route of the vessel is between the Lake Superior and to the necessary ore discharging factory units located in the province of Lorain and Indiana
- The vessel measures almost 309 metres lengthwise with a beam of 32 meters and a draught of almost 18 meters
- The largest bulk carrier boasts of cargo carrying capacities of around 68,000 tonnes of chert (iron ore) and over 64,000 tonnes of char (coal)
- Five cargo decks account for the vessel’s cargo storage capacity while the its automated offloading facilitation enables for a faster offloading of its cargo
- Two four-stroke combustion diesel engines account for the biggest Great Lakes ship power, helping the vessel attain navigational speeds over 15 knots
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