M/V PAUL R. TREGURTHA was refloated by The Great Lakes Towing Company Tugs KENTUCKY and MINNESOTA under the command of two Duluth veteran Towing Company Captains, Martin Lightner and George LaTour, on Saturday evening, September 20th, after the loaded vessel went aground at approximately 3:15 p.m. in Duluth, Minnesota Saturday afternoon.

The Interlake Steamship Company Laker, M/V Paul R. Tregurtha, was built in 1981 and can carry up to 68,000 gross tons of taconite pellets or 71,000 net tons of coal. As the longest vessel currently in operation on the Great Lakes, she is the unofficial “Queen of the Lakes” at 1,013.5 feet.

The Great Lakes Towing Company’s Full Service Lakes-Wide Towing Contract, offers lakes-wide comprehensive towing service with readily available “round-the-clock” tugs and crews. In addition to harbor services, The Company provides emergency assistance to vessels that are wrecked, disabled, or in distress on the Great Lakes. No claim for salvage under the maritime laws is made by the Towing Company for emergency services provided under the Company’s Contract.

Photo Credit: Dawn M. LaPointe, RadiantSpiritGallery.com