M/V Whistler was the first vessel to call the port of Trois-Rivières in 2020, docking on January 5 at 8 p.m. after a 19-day crossing of the Atlantic. With its 20 crew members from mainly the Philippines, but also from Montenegro, Croatia, Greece and Ukraine, the vessel left the port of Valletta, Malta on December 17, 2019, carrying 34,711 tonnes of de-icing salt loaded in Egypt eight days earlier. The cargo is destined for Sable Marco in Pont-Rouge, and unloading operations were handled by Somavrac.
To receive the award of first vessel, the vessel must arrive in Trois-Rivières from an overseas port without making a stopover at another Canadian port and perform a loading or unloading operation at the Port of Trois-Rivières.
“We are pleased to mark this 54th ceremony of the first vessel of the year by presenting the captain of M/V Whistler, Vladimir Milovic, and its chief engineer, Filip Vuckovic, a giclée reproduction of the painting Un port, une équipe, produced by Mauricie artist Caroline St Pierre, as well as a basket of regional products”, said Michel Morin, member of the Board of Directors of Trois-Rivières Port Authority.
Gaétan Boivin, President and CEO of the Port, took the opportunity to highlight the quality of the work carried out by Somavrac and the Trois-Rivières longshoremen responsible for the unloading operations of M/V Whistler.
M/V Whistler is a bulk carrier built in 2007 sailing under the Liberian flag. Its length overall (LOA) is 199.9 metres with a beam (width) of 23.7 metres. During its stay in Trois-Rivières, she was represented by Lower St-Lawrence Ocean Agencies Ltd.