"It worked out great for me.". That means learning on the job, rather than earning a maritime license from an academy. His other responsibilities as captain include managing the crew of 23, planning out schedules, projects and maintenance, and sometimes acting as sheriff and counselor, de-escalating any on-board issues. [4], During the afternoon of September 20, 2014, she was involved in an incident in Duluth, Minnesota, when she ran aground just off the Bayfront Festival Park in the Duluth Harbor Basin, just west of the Aerial Lift Bridge. for nearly fifteen years, first as an associate and then as a full partner. The 308 meter long, 69172 dwt bulk freighter Paul R. Tregurtha went aground on St. Mary's River near Neebish Island.. Though they may be sporting suits and ties now, many have worked their way up the ships ladder so to speak, earning degrees from maritime colleges, U.S. Coast Guard licenses and sailing aboard vessels. "I've lived here all my 60-plus years and watched plenty of boat traffic come and go, but I had no idea what was truly involved in keeping a vessel like this running," he said. [5], Last edited on 18 December 2022, at 12:01, "1,000-foot coal freighter stuck in St. Marys River", "Salvage Experts Refloat Grounded Vessel in St. Marys River", "1,000-foot Laker Stuck near Bayfront Park", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MV_Paul_R._Tregurtha&oldid=1128108016, August 7, 1982: 63,007 long tons (64,018t) load at. hb```%,@% @cF&>nT. Paul Smith is the Chief Cook. This is the final trip for Captain Bob Thibaudeau, senior-most captain in his 42nd season sailing with Interlake. How much do Great Lakes freighter captains make? Follow him on Twitter: @DetroitReporter. After sailing with Interlake Steamship Company for over 40 years, Captain Bob Thibaudeau commands the Queen of the Lakes, the 1,013 foot long PAUL R. TREGURTHA, one last time down the St. Clair River for the DTE/St. Her unloading system and 260-foot boom empty her five cargo holds in about eight hours. After undergoing repairs at the Fraser Shipyards in Superior, Wisconsin, she then loaded her coal cargo at the dock and carried it to Detroit, Michigan. Dustin Darby is a First Mate, "There are gates at the bottom of the cargo holds, hydraulic gates, and they put the cargo on to a conveyor system. After Free Press journalists disembark his boat this weekend, Thibaudeau is due a long vacation. Crew members get their own cabins. The black stuff dumps into the silo like a rocky waterfall. It can slow you down quite a bit. ", And there's a lot of engineering that goes into moving the cargo from ship to shore. ", The Second Cook is Denise Hanrahan. You get used to it by now.". Middleburg Heights, Ohio 44130 [1], In winter 2004, she was asked to transport a reserve of coal to Algoma Steel in Sault Ste. Phil joined Interlake in 2004 as a Fleet Engineer and was later promoted to Fleet Superintendent. How to follow along: Find Jim on Twitter at @DetroitReporter and on Facebook at facebook.com/jimschaef. 2019 The Interlake Steamship Company. He just took the helm of the Tregurtha last October. The biggest shift is in the pilot house, where there are now things like electronic navigation and satellite weather forecasts, "We didn't have all these fancy electronics in the early days , it was mostly visual then. In the winter, they live in Ocala, Fla. Main: 440-260-6900 Stay onboard with Interlake: The Interlake Steamship Company If they start bobbing too much, he knows he will have to replace the bearings soon. Since joining Interlakes executive team in January 2008, Tom has leveraged his vast expertise in the areas of admiralty and maritime law to represent the companys interests on all legal issues, contract negotiations and crisis management. During the period from 1971-88, Moore McCormack grew from $50 million to more than $800 million in revenues. Time lapse as freighter goes through Soo Locks, Time lapse video as Capt. 7300 Engle Road In 2015, Tom was recognized and honored by Crains Cleveland Business as one of the outstanding legal minds in Northeast Ohio. 13abc's Lissa Guyton and videographer Todd Gaertner had a rare opportunity to go along for the ride as the ship unloaded coal in the Detroit area and Monroe. ELRICK. She also has a dog. Loading 43,000 net tons in Conneaut, Ohio, both United States and Canadian Coast Guard services provided ice breaking assistance so that the voyage was completed without any delays. Real Estate. xref It is certainly a team sport out here. Her stern then pivoted and grounded on the opposite side of the channel, completely blocking the approach to the Rock Cut in the Lower St. Marys River. 0000005758 00000 n Deckhands pull heavy steel cables to tie up the boat to docks, sweep the decks, paint, and shovel excess coal into the cargo hold during the loading process. 0000002601 00000 n With CENTURY on her way, she slid up and over to dock for her own offload, and the Captain's last. Those goodies are everything from pastries and cookies to smoked sausages. Aboard each boat, the work generally is split among deckhands, cooks and engine room workers. Mates substitute in around the clock and often pilot the ship, but they call him when needed. The engine room is the blood of the ship, making everything work. It takes a lot to get the Paul R. Tregurtha from Point A to point B. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 7300 Engle Road Following graduation from Massachusetts Maritime, Brendan utilized his United States Coast Guard license, spending several years aboard U.S.-flag vessels before transitioning shoreside and joining Mormac Marine Group, Inc.s marine division and shortly thereafter the Interlake Steamship Company team in 1996. Marie. ", And it's not just cargo the crew takes care of, there are often VIP passengers on board. "You try to get there as safely and as fast as you can," he said. The freighter was proceeding downbound with 62,000 tons of coal when it grounded at the bow. Tom is an active member of Interlakes Incident Response and Management Team, in which he serves critical legal and operations roles, is a Qualified Individual (OPA 90) and is trained as an Incident Commander/On-scene Coordinator. <<69DEDCDFE8AE1241B9008B1DDC630C7E>]/Prev 543681>> Capt. NOTE: YOU MAY HAVE TO CLICK THE REFRESH ICON ON THE LEFT TO SHOW SHIPS! When they are on board, they work seven days a week. christian laettner first wife; leaf home water solutions vs culligan; conventions in las vegas 2022. sona jobarteh husband; houston crime rate by race from Columbia University and an M.B.A. with distinction, from Harvard Business School. Bob Thibaudeau early Wednesday morning eased the Paul R. Tregurtha into northern Michigan's Soo Locks slowly, slowly like a driver inching a monster truck into a crowded mall. In open water, there's an autopilot, but someone always has to be on watch. It's dark down where Perkins works on the belt, and he uses a flashlight to watch rollers that move the belt along. Richard Laksonen, an Upper Peninsula native who has been with Interlake for 30 years, said crew members have shifts (watches, as they call them), which typically have them working four hours on, eight hours off, then repeat. "You're not relaxed until you're on vacation for about a week," said Laksonen, who is the engine room's chief engineer. A slight man with a scruffy beard, he may be the filthiest crew member aboard the 1,013-foot Paul R.. The ships usually run from March into December or January. Hawsepipers on the Tregurtha, like Perkins, said they get as much respect as the school-licensed sailors. If there's an emergency, he can escape climbing a ladder straight up 52 feet to the deck. All rights reserved. Interlake hired him right out of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, which he entered in 1976, the year after the Edmund Fitzgerald went down in Lake Superior during a gale. "They're home having a good time and you're just here.''. Prior to joining Interlake, he sailed aboard numerous vessels in the Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico and trans-Atlantic trades. "Back where I live, you either work on a dairy farm or cut down trees for a living. wolverines. The men and women can work 60 days on and then have 30 days off. Once the Great Lakes freighter was tucked safely inside the lock, the gates shut behind it, an influx of water raised it 20 feet, and she was on her way into Lake Superior. 0000006958 00000 n As Interlakes Vice President of Engineering, Phil oversees all of the day-to-day engineering processes for the fleet and the associated fleet maintenance, repairs and upgrades, dry-docking, as well as regulatory compliance, engineering budgets and general oversight of engineering personnel both aboard ship and shore side. As Vice President of Marketing and Marine Traffic, Brendan leads and manages customer relations, contract administration and revenue for the fleet. On board the Paul R. Tregurtha: The Great Ship of the Great Lakes, GRAPHIC: I am going to die: Body camera footage released in womans in-custody death, Toledo students accused of giving teacher edibles, could face criminal charges, Alleged serial bank robber arrested in Findlay, Toledo teen identified in 41-year-old cold case, TPS becomes part of Safer Ohio School Tip Line, City of Toledo names community members to weigh-in on next Police Chief, City of Toledo launches landlord and tenant surveys, MSU plans to update security, reclaim our sense of safety. In November 2016, he assumed his current management role. US Coast Guard Documentation and Licensing. "So there's really nothing. Officers start around $90,000. now, winter shore leave is over. He plans to join his wife in Muskegon, where they live on a houseboat. That money allows us to fulfill our mission of making known the important history of the Great Lakes.". 0:04. Have a safe one captain bob well miss you stay safe in the MV paul r thergertha, Enjoy your retirement, Captain Bob!! The Interlake Steamship Company was given a contract in 1979 by its customer Republic Steel, to transport iron ore from Lake Superior ports to their steel mill at Indiana Harbor, or to their transshipment terminal at Lorain.[1]. The crew of the Paul R. Tregurtha had to pull a 360-degree maneuver on Friday morning when they learned the aerial lift bridge in Duluth, Minn., that they'd planned to go under had. 0000000891 00000 n The coal gets there through gates that are opened at the bottom of the cargo hatches, which are above where he works. Paul R. Tregurtha, born 1935, was the Vice Chairman of Interlake Steamship Company's Board. The Paul R. Tregurtha is the crown jewel of her fleet, and she makes a lot of trips through our area. We also went under the Ambassador Bridge, where we were met by the J.W. He has twin stepsons, who also work on Great Lakes freighters. 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