Lee A. Tregurtha - A Bitterly Cold Way to Start Winter Layup

Here is the Lee A. Tregurtha arriving in the Twin Ports of Duluth and Superior on the morning of January 15, 2025 to begin her winter layup. Shipping on the upper Great Lakes comes to a halt in mid-January with the closure of the Soo Locks that connect Lake Superior with the St. Marys River (and Lake Huron). The locks close for two months each winter to allow for annual maintenance. It is also a chance for boats to get some maintenance completed while crews get a chance to spend time with their families.
In this video, we the Lee A. Tregurtha enter in through the Duluth shipping canal. She blows a master salute (three long and two short blasts), which the Aerial Lift Bridge answers in return. We then catch up with the Tregurtha at Rice's Point, where she passes under the John A. Blatnik bridge before turning to port to enter Howard's Bay in Superior. Howard's Bay leads up to Fraser Shipyard, where the Tregurtha will slumber for the next two months... waiting for the Soo Locks to reopen on (or around) March 25.
This was a bitterly cold morning to be out ship watching. Temperatures were hovering just above 0 degrees (F) which is cold enough on its own. Then add in a very stiff breeze and it was enough to scare away all but the most dedicated (or insane) boat watchers. Indeed, I was the only person watching this arrival from the south pier. Things only got colder at Rice's Point when the Tregurtha stopped for about 30 minutes after rounding the corner. She was waiting for her fleet mate, the Hon. James L. Oberstar, to make her own way into Fraser Shipyard first. (Note: The Oberstar will be featured in an upcoming video.) It's not evident in this video that the Tregurtha stopped for a while, as I edited out that part. During the wait, I began to contemplate my choices in life and wondered if I needed my head examined... all while I tried to shelter from the wind behind a stone support. But I stayed put and finally captured the Tregurtha slowly pass by.
The 826-foot Lee A. Tregurtha has a long history, serving various roles under various names over the years. Launched in 1942, she went into service as an oiler for the U.S. Navy under the name USS Chiwawa. In March 1943, she was part of a convoy of 45 ships, including destroyers and merchant ships, that was attacked by 17 German U-Boats. Five ships in the convoy were sunk. The USS Chiwawa was awarded a Battle Star for her actions, something she still wears on her pilot house today. After the war, she continued to serve as an oil tanker in private hands until she was purchased by Cleveland Cliffs in 1960 and converted to a lake carrier named the Walter A. Sterling, with a new mid-body section that expanded her length from 501 feet to 726 feet. Another lengthening occurred in 1976, giving her the current length of 826 feet. Another retrofit in 1978 converted her into a self-unloader.
The Lee A. Tregurtha can currently carry 29,360 tons of cargo in her five cargo holds which are accessed by 24 hatches. She was acquired by Interlake Steamship in 1989 and converted from steam in 2006 to be powered by two Rolls Royce Bergen B32-40L6P medium speed 6 cylinder 4,020 b.h.p. (3,000 KW) diesel engines burning heavy fuel oil. While many miss her old steam whistle, the conversion to diesel will hopefully ensure she has many more years left of service on the Great Lakes.
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