The Federal Hamilton, a ship named after our beloved port, made its grand entrance into the Port of Hamilton recently, creating quite a buzz in our waterfront town.
The new 35,000 tonne cargo ship, owned by FedNav, was on its maiden voyage from Japan where it was built. The ship Master, Captain Salil Chakravorty, and his crew were welcomed by staff from the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA Ports) including Vicki Gruber, the ports’ Harbour Master.
“We were thrilled to welcome the Federal Hamilton and its crew to the port,” said Gruber. It was such an honour to board this new vessel; to tour the ship, to see the advancements in technology and to hear stories from the crew about their journey from Japan.”
The vessel travelled for over two months – across the Pacific Ocean, through the Panama Canal and up the Atlantic to the Gulf of St. Lawrence before arriving in Hamilton.
“This is the first of 10 new ships from FedNav,” Gruber continued. “Each new ship represents the most efficient in the fleet, emitting 33% less carbon and 87% less nitrogen oxides, along with the capacity to burn biofuels. It’s a testament to the continued efforts the industry is making to move goods in a sustainable way.”
The ship’s crew, all from India, are a skilled group able to handle a variety of cargoes. The vessel was destined to sail back overseas, loaded with grain from Ontario farmers.
