A tug and barge combination was the first vessel past the breakwater to open the 2020 shipping season at the Port of Thunder Bay.
McKeil Marine’s tug Sharon M1 and barge Huron Spirit arrived during the evening of March 26 to grab the Top Hat Honour, awarded to the earliest ship to arrive in port after the spring opening of the Soo Locks.
It’s the first time in port history that a tug and barge took the prize. Captain Ray Davis and Chief Engineer Vladimir Lats received the honour.
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There was no ceremony this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The barge unloaded 5,000 tonnes of calcium chloride brine solution at Pollard Highway Products (Trillium Distribution) on the Kaministiquia River. The product is used as a road stabilizer and dust suppressant.
In a release, the Port of Thunder Bay said the Burlington-based shipping company is expanding its fleet to become a growing presence in the western Lake Superior port.
Just hours later, the freighter Algoma Sault arrived in port to load grain.
