Montreal port to award Gold-Headed Cane to captain of first ship of 2026

Shipping containers in the Port of Montreal are photographed in Montreal on Thursday, September 11, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

The oil tanker Byzantion was the first ocean-going ship to enter Montreal’s port in 2026.

The Port of Montreal says in a social media post that the ship’s captain, Andrejs Kuharenoks, will be awarded the Gold-Headed Cane as part of a ceremony that dates back to around 1840.

The post says the award is a reminder of the time when shipping was interrupted during the winter months because of ice on the St. Lawrence River.

It says Montrealers used to gather on the docks to cheer on the first ship, which was usually carrying food or clothing.

There has been year-round navigation to and from the port since 1964.

A ship-tracking website called MarineTraffic describes the Byzantion as a 182-metre-long oil or chemical tanker that sails under the flag of the Marshall Islands.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 1, 2026.