The first ocean-going vessel to arrive in 2016 at the Port of Saguenay docked at Quai-Marcel-Dionne at 0:02 yesterday morning, January 20. Flying the flag of the Netherlands, the M/V Minervagracht arrived safely from Lianyungang, China with a cargo of 10,500 tons of carbon anodes for the Grande-Baie Rio Tinto plant. Owned by the Dutch shipowner, Spliethoff, the 142 m long vessel with a deadweight capacity of 11,759 tons is expected to leave the port by the end of the week.
To mark the occasion, Mr. Jean-Guy Bergeron, a member of the Board of Directors, presented a glass commemorative plaque bearing an image of the Port of Saguenay to the captain of the vessel, Mr. William Nota. The ceremony of presenting the plaque took place at the end of the day yesterday at the Administration’s office, in the presence of a representative from the Grande-Baie Rio Tinto plant.
The maritime tradition is that the first ocean-going vessel to berth in the waters of the Port of Saguenay is honoured in a particular way. This significant gesture marks the beginning of a new year of port activities. To be eligible, the vessel must absolutely be a transoceanic ship arriving from abroad.