Lee A. Tregurtha transiting the Soo Locks in a 2021 photograph; not a winter layup image.

THE GREAT LAKES / A SHIP’S WINTER STORY

Lee A. Tregurtha

A World War II tanker that became a Great Lakes working giant.

Few freighters have made a transformation like the Lee A. Tregurtha. Built as the tanker Chiwawa in 1942, it served during World War II before extensive reconstruction made it a Great Lakes ore carrier. Winter shipyard work keeps a remarkable hull's story moving.

Explore documented winters ↗← Back to the atlas
THE MARITIME FIELD JOURNALU.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District · Public domain (U.S. federal government) · Historic photo, not this winter’s layup.
Historical evidence — never a live AIS positionSee dated records ↗

01 / The story behind the steel

One ship.
Many chapters.

Names, ownership and home harbors may change. A vessel identity stays connected to its sourced seasonal records below; no historic berth should be mistaken for its location today.

Chapter 1

From wartime tanker to ore carrier

As Chiwawa, the vessel saw wartime service on both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and was present in Tokyo Bay for Japan's formal surrender in September 1945. In 1959–60, conversion for Great Lakes use included substantial lengthening and hull alterations.

Read the original reporting ↗

Chapter 2

A winter at Fraser Shipyards

The Duluth-Superior Port Authority recorded Lee A. Tregurtha among six active vessels wintering in Superior during 2025–26, at Fraser Shipyards. The berth is a dated historical report, not the ship's current location.

Read the original reporting ↗

02 / Dated historical records

Where this ship spent
its winters.

These are only the winters for which this archive has credible individual evidence. Missing years indicate incomplete reporting, not that the ship was sailing.

WinterHarborDocumented berth or facilityConfidenceSource
Winter 2025–26Superior, WisconsinFraser ShipyardsVerified historicalEvidence ↗

Recorded moments

  1. Duluth Harbor Cam reported a loaded departure through ice on Lake Superior.

    Dated record ↗

  2. Confirmed at Fraser Shipyards in the port's winter roster.

    Dated record ↗

  3. Duluth Harbor Cam documented arrival for winter layup at Fraser Shipyards.

    Dated record ↗

The 2026–27 layup season is not yet populated here. For contemporary AIS positions use the separate live tracker.

03 / Continue exploring

Keep exploring the fleet.

Other biographies from the winter archive.

Algoma Compass ↗James R. Barker ↗Stewart J. Cort ↗American Spirit ↗

How this history is checked

Every layup record has a dated source. Community reports are distinguishable from port authority and museum records. Harbor coordinates are approximate geographic references; they are not a berth, directions to private shipyards or evidence of live vessel position.

Explore the source policy ↗