MV Sunda was the first ocean-going vessel from an overseas port to dock at the port of Trois-Rivières in 2017. It reached the port on Sunday January 8, at 6:51 p.m., following an 11-day non-stop Atlantic crossing. It left the Port of Bilbao in Spain on December 28, 2016.
During the 51st ceremony marking the arrival of the first vessel of the year at the port of Trois-Rivières, the captain and the ship’s chief engineer, Messrs. Ioannis Sevastou and Delfin Mendoza Do Chavez, were presented with a giclée reproduction of the painting À bon port, by Mauricie artist Caroline St-Pierre.
Cléo Marchand, Chairmain of the Board of the Trois-Rivières Port Authority (TRPA) explains that a few other vessels have docked at the port since January 1st, but none qualified for the title as the winning vessel must be an ocean-going vessel that departs from an overseas port, making a non-stop crossing to Trois-Rivières and performs an unloading operation at the port.”
Sunda flies the Liberian flag, and is operated by Seastar Shipmanagement and chartered by Canfornav Ltd. During its stay in Trois-Rivières, it was represented by Lower St-Lawrence Ocean Agencies Ltd., while her cargo loading is handled by G3.
Sunda and its 20 Greek and Filipino crew members are in Trois-Rivières to load Canadian grain. The ship will remain moored in section 16 for approximately three days. Built in 2010, the bulk cargo vessel is 186 metres in length and 23.75 metres in width, with a load capacity of 29,800 tonnes.