Even The Gulls Flock to see the Paul R Tregurtha Arrive Duluth ! Master Salute to Boot!

See Pictures @ / duluthshipphotography
About this visit:
The PRT arrived Duluth for the 5th time this season May 27, 2024 at 12:50, cruising throgh the flock of Gulls at 6.1 kts! Arriving light, heading to the SMET dock in Superior to load coal. They pulled up to the SMET dock at 13:55 and began loading 63K Tons of Low Sulphur Coal. Loading completed May 28 at 00:24, they departed the dock. They departed Duluth 01:00, heading to St Clair MI to deliver the coal. Enjoy this while it lasts, rumors say less than 2 years left on the SMET dock!
Lets learn about those Gulls!
Info from birdwatchinghq.com
Herring Gull
Larus argentatus
Identifying Characteristics:
Adults range from 22.1 to 26.0 inches in length and have a 53.9 to 57.5-inch wingspan.
Breeding adults have light gray backs, white heads, white undersides, and black wingtips and may have dusky marks on their heads during the winter.
They have yellow eyes, dull pink legs, hefty bills, and barrel chests.
Herring Gulls are the familiar, quintessential “sea-gull” in Minnesota. They occupy farmland, coasts, bays, beaches, lakes, piers, and landfills. They’re most abundant on the coast and surrounding large lakes and river systems.
If you spend time at the beach, you’ve probably noticed Herring Gulls waiting for you to drop your snack! In addition to popcorn and chips from humans, they consume fish, crustaceans, mollusks, sea urchins, marine worms, smaller birds, eggs, carrion, and insects.
Herring Gulls will stop at nothing to get a meal! They’ve been observed preying on fish driven to the surface by feeding whales. They also will take hard-shelled items such as crabs and mollusks high into the air and drop them onto rocks to break them open.
Individuals have even been observed “fishing.” One individual was recorded dropping pieces of bread into a pond and catching the goldfish that came up to feed. It didn’t eat any bread itself, suggesting the gull was using the bread as a lure!
The population of Herring Gulls declined steeply during the 19th century because of over-hunting. While their range and population recovered during the 20th century, overfishing, oil spills, and pesticide contamination have reduced some populations.
Info from AI:
The MV Paul R. Tregurtha is a remarkable Great Lakes-based bulk carrier freighter. Let me share some fascinating details about this impressive vessel:
General Characteristics:
Length: She stretches an impressive 1,013.5 feet (308.9 meters) from bow to stern.
Beam: Her width is 105 feet (32 meters).
Depth: The ship’s depth reaches 56 feet (17 meters).
Tonnage: She boasts a net register tonnage of 14,497 tons and a gross tonnage of 36,360 tons.
Nickname: Affectionately known as “The Big Paul” or “Fancy De Lancey.”
Status: Currently in active service.
Significance:
The MV Paul R. Tregurtha holds the prestigious title of Queen of the Lakes. Although unofficial, this title recognizes her as the longest vessel actively navigating the Great Lakes.
She was the last of the thirteen “thousand footers” to enter service on the Great Lakes.
Construction and Features:
Originally launched as the MV William J. De Lancey, she was built at the American Ship Building Company yard in Lorain, Ohio.
The vessel was designed with two primary purposes:
Bulk Carrier: Transporting iron ore from Lake Superior ports to Republic Steel’s steel mill at Indiana Harbor or their transshipment terminal at Lorain.
Executive Passenger Transportation: She was one of the first freighters equipped with full air conditioning, elevators, and luxurious décor.
The hull was constructed in two parts: the forward section in Toledo, Ohio, and the stern portion in Lorain. When combined, she reached her impressive length.
Her unloading system features a stern-mounted 260-foot discharge boom that can swing 100 degrees to port or starboard. This system can unload at a rate of 10,000 long tons of iron ore per hour or 6,000 net tons of coal per hour.
Name Change:
In 1990, she received her current name, Paul R. Tregurtha, in honor of Paul R. Tregurtha, who served as the Vice Chairman of Interlake Steamship Company’s Board.
Operations:
MV William J. De Lancey embarked on her maiden voyage on May 10, 1981, sailing in ballast to Silver Bay, Minnesota, to load 55,944 long tons of iron ore pellets.
The MV Paul R. Tregurtha stands as a testament to engineering marvels and maritime history on the Great Lakes.

[@april906outdoors3]

PRT, a Master salute with reverb, a seagull party, and “Radar” on the mic - what’s not to love? 😊. Thank you!

[@PaulScinocca]

Couldn't agree more! Thanks!

[@Betty-mq6mf]

Very, very cool film. Thanks Paul

[@louGriggs1944]

Great video today Paul, and interesting commentary about seagulls. I grew up in St. Petersburg, FL and have seen a few gulls in my day, along with pelicans and other shore birds. Been here near St. Louis now since 1970 and have always been amazed at the number of gulls up and down the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. We have a son in Astoria OR and another in Charleston SC so have visited both coasts and have seen them on both coasts. We have been to all the great lakes and have seen them there too. They do get around. But a master's salue from the PRT is hard to beat and you don't see many video of these beasts backing up. Thanks for the video.

[@pudermcgavin4462]

Now that was a salute!

[@60trickpa]

Awesome Awesome. Cool watching the ship back up :) thanks Paul always great videos

[@PaulScinocca]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@outlander2878]

I love this channel!!!

[@PaulScinocca]

I appreciate that!

[@gregmctevia5087]

Very good job. I wonder how many Vista Stars you could set on the deck of PRT.🤔🤔🤔

[@by-amrcn]

I spent the whole video looking for Tippi Hedren

[@PaulScinocca]

LOL, She's 94-ish now?

[@ILikeGT_101]

I watched her master salute on canal cam she did this for Memorial Day

[@PaulScinocca]

That she did, not a frequent Master Salute ship at all, they save it for special occasions.

[@SteveMikre44]

I wonder if the Captain and crew of Paul R Tregurtha are fans of the English 80s Pop Band "Flock of Seagulls"? 🤔🇬🇧🎸

[@PaulScinocca]

LOL, good question.

[@firemedic5100]

I hate when I forget where I am going. I ain't that good at backing up.

[@PaulScinocca]

LOL, it still amazes me just how well they handle these huge vessels!

[@user-fk8ry2cs5c]

The PRT is sure the one for me to remember. I will miss the hot and the cold days working on her. To think that where she was built is now just houses. What a waste.

[@PaulScinocca]

Indeed.

[@lynnsenger9950]

And I ran, I ran so far away, because I had a flock of seagulls chasing me.

[@pixie706]

"I ran all night and day".....I am surprised that fabulous horn didn't scare them 😊

[@PaulScinocca]

LOL!

[@treeandaturd]

if we just had a few more seagulls!

[@PaulScinocca]

And to think, they are now protected.

[@generationll]

How do you manage to pull up a 2nd picture?

[@PaulScinocca]

Multiple cameras in use.

[@Boatnerd22]

(This is Nick, the person you met for the Federal Oshima departure) How accurate do you think the SMET rumors are? I know it is the 3rd biggest dock in Duluth/Superior 1st CN and 2nd BN (And also rare master salute for the PRT)

[@Boatnerd22]

Also, love how you are able to get the info from the maritime museum on to the video

[@PaulScinocca]

All I know, public info, is their Lease expires in under 2 years, I also heard they were planning on shutting down the 2 coal plants. We will see if they shut or not. If they do, that is a lot of ship traffic that will end in the Twin Ports. Last season that dock had a total of80 ship visits.

[@Boatnerd22]

Thanks Paul! Wow that would not be good if it closed

[@myroncoleman9825]

Do the seagulls follow the big lakers all the ti me if so why?

[@PaulScinocca]

I think they are opportunists, they are catching what the ship props kick up in the shallow canal. Normally, I see them abort the ship just out of the canal.