You’ve probably seen the videos of a massive red hull sliding under the Aerial Lift Bridge in Duluth, the horn blast so loud it literally rattles the windows of nearby parked cars. That is the Paul R. Tregurtha. It is 1,013 feet and 6 inches of American steel, and honestly, calling it a "ship" feels like an understatement. It’s more like a floating skyscraper that decided to go for a swim.
But there is a specific myth about this boat that drives maritime nerds crazy. Most people see "The Queen of the Lakes" and assume it’s a permanent title, like a crown that stays on one head forever. It’s not. The title belongs to the longest vessel currently active on the Great Lakes. The Tregurtha has held that title since 1981, which is a record-breaking run, but it’s a title based on math, not just vibes.
Why the Paul R. Tregurtha Still Matters in 2026
In an era where we talk about automation and "green" shipping, the Tregurtha is a fascinating bridge between the old-school industrial might of the 20th century and modern logistics. Built by the American Ship Building Company, it was the last of the "thousand-footers" to be constructed. When it launched as the William J. DeLancey in April 1981, it marked the end of an era. We basically stopped building boats this big on the lakes because, well, where would you even put another one?
The ship is the flagship of the Interlake Steamship Company. It’s not just there for show, either. It’s a workhorse. It carries iron ore and coal—thousands of tons of it—to power the steel mills and electricity plants that keep the Midwest running.
The Split-Birth of a Giant
One of the weirdest facts about the Paul R. Tregurtha is that it wasn't built in one piece. That’s just not how you handle a 1,000-foot project. The bow (the front) was built in Toledo, Ohio. The stern (the back) was built in Lorain, Ohio. They literally towed the front half across the water to meet the back half, then welded them together like a giant, high-stakes LEGO set.
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Imagine the precision required for that. If you're off by even an inch, the whole thing is a disaster. But they nailed it. The result was a hull so long that if you stood it on end, it would be taller than most skyscrapers in Detroit or Cleveland.
The "Queen" and Her Many Near-Misses
Being the biggest boat on the pond sounds prestigious until you realize the Great Lakes aren't actually that deep or wide in the spots where you need to go. The Tregurtha has a bit of a reputation for getting into trouble. In the shipping world, we call it "touching bottom," but let's be real—it's running aground.
- The 2012 St. Marys River Incident: This was a big one. The ship was loaded with 62,000 tons of coal and basically got stuck sideways in the "Rock Cut" near Sault Ste. Marie. It blocked the entire channel. Eleven other massive ships were just stuck waiting behind it like a traffic jam on I-75.
- The 2014 Duluth Grounding: This happened right in front of a crowd of ship-watchers. The Tregurtha was leaving Duluth, made a turn a little too wide (or the wind caught it—accounts vary), and ended up stuck in the mud just off Bayfront Festival Park. It took two tugboats and a lot of maneuvering to pull it free.
- The 2023 Horn Record: On a lighter note, the ship recently broke a decibel record. Its horn hit 125.3 decibels while departing Duluth. For context, that is louder than a thunderclap or a chainsaw.
Inside the Floating City
If you ever got the chance to step on board, you’d realize it isn't just a cargo hold. When it was built, it was designed to handle executive transportation too. It has air conditioning, elevators (which were a luxury for freighters back then), and even guest staterooms with wood paneling.
Technically, the ship is powered by two MaK 6M43C diesel engines. These aren't your truck engines. We're talking about 17,120 total horsepower. Despite its size, it can move at about 15 knots, which is roughly 17 miles per hour. That doesn't sound fast until you realize you're moving 68,000 tons of iron ore. The momentum alone is terrifying.
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How it Unloads Itself
The Tregurtha is a "self-unloader." It has a 260-foot boom on the deck that can swing out to either side. It uses a loop belt system to pull cargo out of the hold and shoot it onto the dock. It can dump 10,000 tons of iron ore per hour. If you tried to do that with a fleet of dump trucks, you’d be there for weeks. This ship does it in a single afternoon.
The Legend of "Big Paulie"
Sailors and boat-watchers call it "Big Paulie" or "The Big Paul." There’s a weirdly personal connection people have with this ship. Maybe it’s because it’s the biggest. Maybe it’s because it’s been around since the early 80s and feels like a constant in a changing world.
In May 1990, it officially lost the name William J. DeLancey and became the Paul R. Tregurtha, named after the Vice Chairman of Interlake. Since then, it has broken its own cargo records dozens of times. In 2001, it carried over 3 million tons of cargo through the Soo Locks in a single season.
Is There a New Queen Coming?
People always ask: "Will someone build a bigger boat?" Probably not. The locks at Sault Ste. Marie—the "Soo Locks"—are the bottleneck. The Poe Lock can handle 1,000-footers, but there’s only so much room in the turns and the channels. Unless we spend billions of dollars widening the entire Great Lakes infrastructure, the Paul R. Tregurtha will likely keep its crown until it’s eventually retired and sent to the scrap yard, which hopefully won't be for a long time.
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Insights for Ship Watchers
If you want to see the Paul R. Tregurtha in person, you need to track its AIS (Automatic Identification System) signal. Sites like VesselFinder or MarineTraffic are your best friends here.
- Timing is everything: The ship frequently visits Duluth, Superior, and Two Harbors. It usually takes about 24 to 36 hours to load or unload.
- The Soo Locks: This is the best place to see the scale. When the ship is in the lock, there are only feet of clearance on either side. It’s a masterclass in precision steering.
- The Duluth Lift Bridge: If you’re at Canal Park, wait for the horn. But seriously, cover your ears if you're standing right under the bridge. 125 decibels is no joke.
The Paul R. Tregurtha represents a specific kind of American industrial longevity. It’s a 45-year-old machine that still outperforms almost everything else on the water. It’s grounded, it’s loud, it’s incredibly efficient, and it’s still the undisputed Queen.
What to do next: If you're planning a trip to the Great Lakes, check the Duluth Harbor Cam or the Sault Ste. Marie live feeds. These cameras track the Tregurtha’s arrivals in real-time, allowing you to catch a glimpse of the largest vessel on the lakes from your own home. For a deeper look at the technical specs, the Interlake Steamship Company’s official fleet page offers the most current data on the ship’s maintenance and recent repowering efforts.