Ship at a glance — Federal Dart (Fednav)
- Type: Handy bulk carrier (geared, 4 deck cranes, ~35-ton SWL)
- Builder / Year: Oshima Shipbuilding, Japan — 2018
- Dimensions: ~656 ft LOA (199.98 m) × ~78 ft beam (23.8 m); depth ~48 ft
- Engine / Speed: MAN B&W low-speed diesel; service ~14 knots
- Flag / Owner: Marshall Islands flag; Fednav (Montreal) ownership/operation
- Holds / Hatches: 6 holds / 6 hatches; geared for self cargo handling in port
The ship’s geared cranes make quick work of mixed and project cargoes at Duluth’s Clure/Port Terminal, which is set up for intermodal transfers via Duluth Cargo Connect.
Watch Live <—– canal & lift bridge cams
Sound on: Horn salute & a solemn note
You’ll hear the classic bridge–ship horn exchange (three long, two short). Locally it’s often called the ambassador/friendly salute and is traditionally answered by the Aerial Lift Bridge. On November 10, 2025, the Great Lakes community marks the 50th anniversary of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald sinking, and memorial events are scheduled around the lake—so salutes this week carry special meaning.
Radio highlights (what’s happening)
- Approach & turn: Pilot asks both tugs to stand by port, then to shift starboard after the turn for a stern-first landing.
- Tug lineup: Crews coordinate pushes—half and full—on bow and stern to ease the ship alongside.
- Lines fast: Once first lines are up, the tugs reduce to easy pressure, then all off when the ship is secure.
If you love the cadence of a well-run docking, this clip delivers—from initial handshakes on VHF 18/16 to “lines all in.”
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FAQ
Why unload steel at Duluth’s Port Terminal?
The Clure/Port Terminal handles breakbulk like structural steel and project pieces, with rail and truck connections through Duluth Cargo Connect. Geared bulkers like Federal Dart can discharge with their own cranes.
Who owns Federal Dart?
She’s part of the Fednav fleet, a major Great Lakes–Seaway operator.
Is “three long, two short” a thing here?
Yes—Duluth’s Aerial Lift Bridge frequently returns the salute as a traditional greeting.
