January 07, 2026
The Montreal Port Authority officially inaugurated the start of a new year of activity by presenting the Gold-Headed Cane to the Byzantion became the first ocean-going vessel of 2026 to cross the Port of Montreal's boundary waters without making any prior stops.
Departing from the port of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, the Byzantion completed an 11-day transatlantic crossing, a remarkable feat in the middle of winter in the North Atlantic. Flying the Marshall Islands flag, the tanker docked at Pier 109, operated by Suncor, where it is currently unloading its cargo.
At the Port of Quebec the Gold-Headed Cane was awarded to the MV Mayaro, which docked at wharf 50 in the morning, under the command of Captain Leroy J. Enguerra, who will be receiving this year's emblematic distinction in Qu�bec port history. The MV Mayaro, built in 2015 and operated by Montship inc., is starting off 2026 carrying methanol.
The tradition of handing out gold headed canes to the captains of the first ships arriving at ports along the St. Lawrence river started in the days when the river froze over in the winter. The first ships - sail ships in those days - did not make it up the river until the spring thaw. Nowadays the St. Lawrence is kept open year round by Coast Guard icebreakers.