The M.V. Federal Franklin made history on March 28 by becoming the earliest international vessel (i.e. ‘salty’) to arrive in Port of Thunder Bay, surpassing the previous record set on March 30, 2006. That afternoon following its morning arrival, the ship and its crew were warmly received with the traditional Top Hat Ceremony. However, due to unsafe icy conditions, the ceremony was staged indoors.

The ceremony took place at Thunder Bay Terminals, where the vessel was taking on a load of Canadian potash bound for Brazil. The nearly-new Federal Franklin was commissioned in 2021 into the Fednav fleet of Seaway-max bulkers. Fednav is Canada’s largest oceangoing bulk shipping company and its fleet accounts for 40% of salty vessel calls to Port of Thunder Bay.

Captain Rohit Khosla and Chief Engineer Jyotirmay Santra were cordially welcomed by the Port of Thunder Bay team and honoured with the presentation of the ceremonial Top Hat by Port Board Chair Pat Bushby. The afternoon was marked by further gestures of appreciation, including gifts and heartfelt words of welcome from various esteemed guests representing the Province of Ontario, the City of Thunder Bay, Mission to Seafarers Thunder Bay, and Thunder Bay Shipping.

This event constituted the second Top Hat Ceremony of the week, as Port of Thunder Bay traditionally hosts two ceremonies annually: one to commemorate the first arrival of a domestic vessel and another to celebrate the first international vessel of the season.

Photo shows the Captain of MV Federal Franklin Rohit Khosla, on left, and Pat Bushby, Chair of the Thunder Bay Port Authority, on right)