MV Blacky berthed at Richardson’s Main Terminal (Chris Heikkinen)

The Arrival Of First Ocean-Going Vessel

Jason Wellwood April 19, 2022 8:49 pm Last Updated on June 30, 2025 2:23 pm

The opening of the navigation season at the Port of Thunder Bay.

The MV Blacky crossed the Thunder Bay breakwall Monday morning and will make it’s way to Puerto Rico on Wednesday with Western Canadian wheat and oats.

The Cyprus-registered Blacky vessel has shipped 150,000 metric tonnes of Western Canadian grain from Thunder Bay to destinations in Europe and Latin America.

Over 100 ocean-going ‘salty’ vessels visit the Port of Thunder Bay annually, with the final vessels departing late December.

Jason Wellwood

Originally from southern Ontario, Jason found his way here and fell in love with the community and music scene of Thunder Bay over twenty years ago. In between various stints on radio, television and writing, Jason is a dad, a partner and (some would consider) a zoo keeper (seriously, he has a LOT of pets).

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