MV Federal Franklin Captain Rohit Khosla receiving the 2025 Saltie Top Hat Honour - (Supplied via Port of Thunder Bay)
The international shipping season is officially underway at the Port of Thunder Bay.
A Top Hat Ceremony was held on Wednesday to recognize the first international “saltie” vessel to reach port in the shipping season.
For the second year in a row, the MV Federal Franklin, helmed by Captain Rohhit Khosl, earned the honours.
The ship entered the city on Monday evening.
Last year, the same vessel and captain set a record for the earliest arrival of a saltie in Thunder Bay, arriving on March 28.
This year’s arrival date is also earlier than usual, with the average date for the opening of the international shipping season being April 10, according to the port.
The ship is in Thunder Bay to collect a load of Canadian canola, which is being delivered to Veracruz, Mexico.
