His captain's seat resembles a barber's chair, but that's probably an insult. That program recounts how in 2008, while leaving Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, MV Paul R. Tregurtha got stuck in ice and cracked steel plating on the port side of her bow, causing ballast tank water to leak out. They all have specific jobs, but it's a jack-of-all-trades environment. Crew members come and go, especially during vacation season. The ships usually run from March into December or January. Nater in the wheel house of the Paul R. Tregurtha Wednesday, July 10, 2013 Watch for my new Children's book. The MV Paul R. Tregurtha is the current flagship for the Interlake Steamship Company. Mr. Barker received a B.A. Our travels took us by beautiful waterfront homes, through downtown Detroit. Interlake wishes Captain Tim Dayton all the best as he departs the M/V Paul R Tregurtha for the last time as Captain. It was certainly a lot more challenging in the early days. [1] In 1990 she received her current name. xref ELRICK. This move not only was made in the dark, but in reverse for more than four miles while lightning flashed and the wind whipsawed. Before taking the helm as Interlakes President in April 2007, Mark held various appointments of ascending leadership moving from Fleet Engineer to Vice President and Treasurer. The Kempfs won the trip in an auction benefiting the March of Dimes this past winter. De Lancey departed Lorain on her maiden voyage on May 10, 1981, sailing in ballast to Silver Bay, Minnesota, to load 55,944 long tons (56,842 t) of iron ore pellets. On the Tregurtha, his job included baking cookies every day. My hat goes off to the old time captains . 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. Paul Smith is the Chief Cook. There are plenty of exceptions. Captains make $160,000 to $200,000, according to Glenn Kolke, marine personnel manager for Interlake. Time lapse as freighter goes through Soo Locks, Time lapse video as Capt. If there's an emergency, he can escape climbing a ladder straight up 52 feet to the deck. Crew members fix their own problems. In open water, there's an autopilot, but someone always has to be on watch. There are a few incredible raffle prizes, including $10,000 in cash. 61K views 1 year ago SARNIA 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,. He's been working in the galley for more than 25 years, "That's the hardest part of the job. He and the other men and women who work aboard Great Lakes commercial freighters make good money devoting months of every year to these boats. It is certainly a team sport out here. There are two paths to advance in the ranks, by graduating from a maritime academy or "climbing up through the hawsepipe." at 1,010 feet long, she's bigger than three football fields laid end to end. MV William J. Tickets are still available. She's been putting up with this for 30 years.". "There's really nowhere to go, except your room," he said. Marie. 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. It's a story you'll only see here. 0:32. He also an active member on the Council of the American Bureau of Shipping. The Tregurtha is one of nine ships owned by Interlake Steamship, the largest privately held fleet on the Great Lakes. For dessert, there's a cake called chocolate insanity. Half a mile an hour or more, which has an economic impact. Framing beneath the plating was also bent and cracked. Arriving into Port Huron on, suitably, the 4th of July, it appeared that nearly every seaworthy vessel in the area, likely already planning a nice holiday boat cruise, made its way out on to the river to escort the Captain in, and occurring on Independence Day made the spectacle even more impressive. Paul R Tregurtha Downbound Lake Huron to Blue Water Bridge while Captain Dayton explains late fall and winter transits on Lake Superior Don't miss the boat! Last week, all but two were men the chief cook and an assistant. She has an elevator and quite luxurious guest accommodations. We had a trip earlier this month in zero visibility through a narrow river channel. 0000004077 00000 n Home; Features; Services; About; Contact; Login; Get Free Demo While in charge on the Tregurtha, Captain Bob made. In addition, he has been Chairman of Moran Towing Corp. since 1994 and Chief Executive Officer since 1998. We did Part One the day before this Interview and I will post it as well but the sound isn't as good (they were in a dodgy area on the St Mary's River) Even in this video you'll notice there are times when the sound goes a little wonky but it's worth it to see and hear Captain answer some questions, show us what's happening on the River and just talk for about a half hourA huge thank you to him for agreeing to do this With Covid and me being in Canada, this was about as good as it was going to get to be able to see him before he left the ship so I'll take it!I apologize for the sounds issues here and there.. 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. He is also Vice Chairman of Moran Towing Corp. and Mormac Marine Group, Inc. and Chairman of SeaStreak, LLC. Stay onboard with Interlake: The Interlake Steamship Company 2023 www.thetimesherald.com. 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. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Paul R Tregurtha departed Duluth early this morning. Marie. All rights reserved. The chef makes three gourmet meals that would be found in a five star restaurant. from Columbia University and an M.B.A. with distinction, from Harvard Business School. Since assuming the leadership role of Chief Financial Officer in the fall of 2014, Bill has brought his extensive financial acumen to The Interlake Steamship Company. Operations [ edit] MV William J. It can slow you down quite a bit. duluthharborcam.com. ", And there's a lot of engineering that goes into moving the cargo from ship to shore. Paul R. Tregurtha - Sporting the title "the Queen of the Lakes" for being the largest freighter to sail on the Great Lakes, "Big Paul" is a staggering 1,013 feet in length. The black stuff dumps into the silo like a rocky waterfall. That's when you earn your money in the winter time. 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. Reporter Jim Schaefer and photographer Eric Seals sailed last week aboard the Paul R. Tregurtha, the longest ship on the Great Lakes. He is the Chairman of Lake Carriers Association Fleet Engineers Committee. As Chief Financial Officer, Bill manages Interlakes financial and banking relationships, and analyzes all financial aspects and drivers of the organization using his comprehensive understanding of operational processes. 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. He lives out of his suitcase in case he gets a call to report to a port. 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. I was only out here for a day, so I can't imagine how cool it would be to be out here for several days for the raffle trip. Built for approximately $60 million, she became a flagship for the Interlake fleet. Thanks for the double salute when you arrived yesterday, both the Captain's Salute and the Master Salute--and lots of cheers from the onlookers when the Canal Park Museum narrator told them you were retiring. The Great Ship of the Great Lakes moves quietly and efficiently through the water. His previous roles with the company include vice president of Industrial Relations and Government Affairs, Director of Human Resources & Industrial Relations and Director of Marine Personnel. Aboard each boat, the work generally is split among deckhands, cooks and engine room workers. Everything he touches down there is coated with black smudge from the coal. Contact Liz Shepard at (810) 989-6273 or lshepard@gannett.com. "This is the ship that everyone would like to sail," Thibaudeau said, noting not just the Tregurtha's crown as "Queen of the Lakes" due to its length, but also because he likes hosting 20 sets of passengers each year. "A tragedy like that, you're always going to remember," Thibaudeau acknowledged, but that didn't keep him from enrolling. Track current position of PAUL R TREGURTHA on Live Map and find its IMO, MMSI, Call Sign, 7729057,366904940. Have a great retirement Captain Bob. four in a bed contestant dies. Catch up with their adventures here. Perkins, 33, comes from the tiny town of Hillman in Michigan's northeastern lower peninsula. "They actually assign to the guests a porter, an individual who looks after us, keeps us advised She's constanly bringing us plates of goodies," Randy Burgett said Thursday from the ship. She started as a temporary cook, and years later she's still sailing, "My kids were all grown, and I was working on Mackinaw Island and I would see the freighters go by. ", The menu while we were on board was impressive,"We're serving prime rib, sea scallops in butter Parmesan sauce and a chicken Parmesan breast. The pilot house that's the brains of the ship making everything go. He received a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from Cornell University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Follow Jim Schaefer on Twitter at@DetroitReporter and on Facebook at facebook.com/jimschaef . With CENTURY on her way, she slid up and over to dock for her own offload, and the Captain's last. "It worked out great for me.". Paul R. Tregurtha Entering The Harbor #3 (With Captain's Salute) - YouTube The reigning "Queen of the Lakes" title holder as the longest vessel on the Great Lakes at 1,013' 06" (308.91m). Eric Seals/Detroit Free Press, Life on a Great Lakes freighter: All hands well fed, Follow Freep aboard a Great Lakes freighter, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. A graduate of SUNY Maritime College with a degree in Marine Engineering and an Unlimited Third Assistant Engineer License, Mark holds an MBA from the Case Western Reserve Universitys Weatherhead School of Management. %%EOF It's a process that takes about eight hours, much faster than the old days, when such boats were unloaded from the dock with a sort of shovel contraption. ", Captain Johnson has worked on the lakes for decades. Marie, Ontario, necessitating a mid-winter voyage. "Everybody I've talked to has said it's a trip of a lifetime and I have to agree with that," the Fort Gratiot man said from aboard the Paul R. Tregurtha Thursday. He started as a deckhand and worked his way up. Phil joined Interlake in 2004 as a Fleet Engineer and was later promoted to Fleet Superintendent. Perkins works in the deepest areas beneath the engine room. Officers start around $90,000. [2], At around 3 a.m. on August 15, 2012, as she was proceeding downbound with 62,000 tons of coal, the bow of MV Paul R. Tregurtha grounded in the outbound channel of St. Marys River, just north of the Neebish Island ferry crossing, near Sault Ste. He pilots from high above the stern, in a rectangular room filled with banks of computers, radar equipment, communications equipment and electronic mapping screens. In the winter, they live in Ocala, Fla. "But if I wasn't out here doing what I'm doing, they wouldn't have the good times.". They have two children. Perkins descended ladders into the belly of the ship, below the massive cargo hold, to monitor a conveyor belt as it unloaded about 34,000 tons. I'll be coming up to them on the gang way with a walker until you tell me I can't do it anymore.". . We often carry passengers and guests, so we like to step our menu up a notch a lot. Middleburg Heights, Ohio 44130 A native of Worcester, Mass., Brendan has been a respected member of the maritime industry since graduating from The Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1993 earning a Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation and an Unlimited Third Mate Open Oceans License and a commission as an officer in the United States Naval Reserve. You can't provide for your family. When they are on board, they work seven days a week. There's also a mate on site, and a wheelman to steer. And they are proud of their ability to succeed. One of the most important parts of the ship is the galley. 0000000576 00000 n The coal gets there through gates that are opened at the bottom of the cargo hatches, which are above where he works. Bob Thibaudeau of the Paul R. Tregurtha freighter takes the largest freighter on the Great Lakes (at 1,013 feet long) through the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. 67 0 obj <> endobj Mr. Tregurtha has served on the Board of Directors of Nextera (Florida Power & Light), Fleet Financial Group, and TIAA/CREF. 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. %PDF-1.3 % 7300 Engle Road Before joining Moore McCormack, Mr. Barker was Executive Vice President of Temple, Barker & Sloane, Inc., a management consulting firm that he co-founded in 1969. 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. Captain Johnson says life on the lakes is not for everyone, but most of the people on board the PRT have been sailing for a long time, "Everybody has a vital role whether you are a deckhand, an engineer, cook,mates, we're a big team. 0000006958 00000 n At 1,013.5-feet, she is considered the Queen of the Lakes. 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]. He also thinks the work in the Great Lakes shipping industry is well worth it. Prior to the purchase of Interlake, Mr. Barker was Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Moore McCormack Resources, a position he held since joining the company in 1971. It's truly a mountain of coal. He also jams a pair of sweatpants under the door to cut that light. "I have talked to people who have been on this trip and I guess it's like anything else, until you actually experience it, it's unbelievable.". Discover the vessel's particulars, including capacity, machinery, photos and ownership. His whole career has been with Interlake Steamship Co., which owns the Tregurtha and eight other working ships. Related: Life on a Great Lakes freighter: All hands well fed, Related: Follow Freep aboard a Great Lakes freighter. "Everybody I've talked to has said it's a trip of a lifetime and I . Paul R. Tregurtha, born 1935, was the Vice Chairman of Interlake Steamship Company's Board. 13abc's Lissa Guyton and videographer Todd Gaertner had a rare opportunity to go along. "It's calming and awesome, you're almost lost for words," Linda Kempf said. after dropping off a load of coal. He gets it on his clothing and in his eyes. 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. 2019 The Interlake Steamship Company. It takes a lot to get the Paul R. Tregurtha from Point A to point B. She is truly a workhorse out on the water. Between the raffle and the fundraiser we usually generate about 15% of the museum's operating budget for the year. It is the biggest ship sailing the lakes today. A lot has changed since the captain's first days on the job. Georgia, Michigan lead way-too-early Top 25 for next year's college football season. The Free Press spent a week aboard the boat ending Sunday, chronicling freighter life, watching how the men and women aboard earn their living. He has twin stepsons, who also work on Great Lakes freighters. "It does suck not being there for all the good times," said the man they call El Dirty. 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