The Port of Montreal welcomes the first ocean-going vessel of 2012

MONTREAL, Jan. 2, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Sylvie Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Montreal Port Authority (MPA), welcomed Monday evening Captain Fuerstenberg, Master of the Seasprat, and his crew. By crossing the Port of Montreal's downstream limits at Sorel at 6:04 PM, the Seasprat became the first ocean-going vessel to reach the Port of Montreal without a stopover in 2012.

During a brief ceremony held aboard the ship, Ms. Vachon congratulated the whole crew and took the occasion to highlight the Port's importance to the economy of Canada, Quebec and Montreal in particular. She toasted the future of merchant shipping and a new year of commercial navigation to the Port of Montreal.

Flying a German flag, the Seasprat is a tanker operated by German Tanker Shipping, represented in Montreal by the SMK Tanker Agency. The Seasprat left the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands on December 20 at 01:42 a.m., and docked tonight in Montreal at berth 103.

During an official ceremony on Tuesday, January 3rd, Captain Fuerstenberg will receive the Gold-Headed Cane, a highly prized trophy awarded each year to the captain of the first ocean-going vessel to reach the Port of Montreal without a stopover.

About the Montreal Port Authority
Operated by the Montreal Port Authority (MPA), the Port of Montreal is a major diversified transshipment centre that handles all types of goods - non-containerized cargo, liquid bulk and dry bulk. It is a leading container port served by the largest container shipping lines in the world.

The Port of Montreal owns its own rail network, operated directly on the piers. It is connected to the two nationwide railways Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific (CP).

With the exception of the marine passenger terminal operated by the Port Authority, all the terminals are operated by private stevedoring firms. Port activity supports 18,200 jobs and generates $1.5 billion in economic spin-offs per year.

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Photos of the ship and the Captain will be posted on CNW later tonight.

Michèle Beaubien
Director of Communications
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www.port-montreal.com