Crew of Federal Dart excited about being the first saltie of the season

A First Ship ceremony is on the record books for the crew of the Federal Dart. They welcomed people aboard on Thursday for the event.

Port and city leaders presented them with gifts to mark the occasion.

The ship master, Anuvarat Arora from India, said he was really excited to find out they were the first. He has sailed into Duluth before, but has never been the first.

“When we got the voyage instructions, and calculated the distance and time it would take, I knew we would be one of the first. The Seaway opened on the 22nd at 8am, and we were there that evening,” Arora said.

The vessel sailed under the lift bridge at 2:30pm on Tuesday the 28th, marking the earliest arrival ever of a saltie in the Twin Ports.

As for the winner of the First Ship Contest, the woman guessed 2:28pm on March 28th. That’s just two minutes off!

The Federal Dart unloaded cement, and will take a load of wheat back to Europe.

The season is off to a fast start in general, with 20 arrivals since the Soo Locks opened on Saturday.