A ceremony steeped in old navy history marked the resumption of foreign trade in Canada's shipping industry earlier this week in Windsor.
The M/V Egbert Wagenborg is the first foreign ship to arrive at the Port of Windsor this year.
To mark the occasion, Harbour Master Peter Berry and officials from ADM Agri Industries greeted the master of the vessel with a Port of Windsor Challenge Coin.
The "salty" is registered in the Netherlands and is classified as a general cargo ship. She is capable of carrying more than 20,000 metric tonnes of cargo. M/V Egbert Wagenberg arrived at ADM Agri Industries on Tuesday.
Captain Francis Bos admitted he was surprised his ship was the first foreign vessel to arrive at the port.
"We tried to be the first in the [St. Lawrence] Seaway, but we arrived, and there was already a ship in line for the opening," he said. "We did not realize we are the first here. I am very proud that we were the first salty to the port."
The St. Lawrence Seaway opened for the season on March 22.
The Port of Windsor is the third largest port in Ontario and receives more than 600 ships a season, delivering more than 5-million tonnes of aggregate, salt, steel, and grain to Windsor-Essex. It also has the largest ship fueling depot in the province.