Longest ship on Lake Superior runs aground in Duluth harbor

Tugboats work on the Paul R. Tregurtha
A crowd watches tugboats attempt to dislodge the Paul R. Tregurtha on Saturday.
Derek Montgomery/For MPR News

The Paul R. Tregurtha, hauling a full load of coal, ran aground in the Duluth harbor on Saturday, the Duluth News Tribune reported.

Tugboats work on the Paul R. Tregurtha
Tugboats work on the Paul R. Tregurtha.
Derek Montgomery/For MPR News

At 1,013.5 feet from stem to stern, the longest ship on the Great Lakes spent about four hours aground near the Bayfront Festival Park before being set free by two tugboats.

"It was making the turn to go under the lift bridge, but it didn't turn," Adele Yorde, spokeswoman for the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, told the newspaper. "It went straight toward Bayfront Park" at about 3:20 p.m.

The Paul R. Tregurtha
The Paul R. Tregurtha failed to negotiate a turn toward the Aerial Lift Bridge.
Derek Montgomery/For MPR News

There were no known injuries and no signs of pollution, the Coast Guard said.