Ellensborg is the first ocean-going vessel port to directly reach the port of Trois-Rivières from an overseas point of departure in 2019. It reached the port on January 7, at 2:24 p.m., following a 25-day Atlantic voyage. The vessel, with its fifteen crew members of Thai nationality, left the port of Lüderitz in Namibia on Dec. 14, 2018 with a cargo of 11,000 tonnes of zinc unloaded by Somavrac, and destined for the CEZinc refinery in Valleyfield, Quebec.
Danielle St-Amand, Chair of Trois-Rivières Port Authority explained: “To receive the title, the vessel must arrive in Trois-Rivières from an overseas port without making a stopover and perform a loading or unloading operation at the port.”
During the 53rd ceremony marking the arrival of the first vessel of the year at the Port, Captain Meemongkhon Choorith and Chief Engineer Singh-Sa Suthep, were presented with a giclée reproduction of the painting Un port, une équipe, produced by Mauricie artist Caroline St-Pierre, and a basket of local products.
Gaétan Boivin, Port President and CEO, reminded the attendees that Somavrac handles mining products for various mines and refining plants located in Quebec, Ontario and the U.S., from its facilities at the Port of Trois-Rivières.
The general cargo vessel Ellensborg was built in 2011, sails under the Panama flag, and is owned by WECO A/S of Denmark. During its stay in Trois-Rivières, it was represented by Lower St. Lawrence Ocean Agencies Ltd.