The final foreign vessel of the 2025 Great Lakes shipping season has officially slipped away into the night. On December 23, 2025, the Polish bulk carrier Miedwie quietly departed Duluth, earning her title as the “Last Salty” of the season and closing the chapter on another year of international traffic through the Port of Duluth.
For ship watchers and Great Lakes enthusiasts, the departure of the last saltwater vessel always carries a special weight. It marks the narrowing window before winter ice claims the Seaway and reminds us just how tightly choreographed late-season shipping can be.
Where Is Miedwie Headed After Leaving Duluth?
When Miedwie departed Duluth overnight, she was carrying a load of wheat, a classic late-season cargo for Great Lakes bulk carriers. While her ultimate destination is expected to be somewhere in the Mediterranean, the ship will first make a planned stop in Montreal along the St. Lawrence Seaway, most likely for refueling and voyage preparations before crossing the Atlantic.
Foreign-flagged vessels operating on the Great Lakes have a firm deadline to clear the system. All international ships must reach the Atlantic by January 5, making timing absolutely critical this late in the season. Miedwie’s successful departure ensured that all foreign ships exited Duluth safely before the deadline.
Why Miedwie Is Called the “Last Salty”
The term “Last Salty” is used by Great Lakes ship watchers to describe the final ocean-going vessel to depart a port before winter closure. Unlike domestic lakers, saltwater ships must exit the Seaway before ice and lock shutdowns make transatlantic travel impossible.
Seeing Miedwie depart was a reassuring sight. It confirmed that every foreign vessel made it out of Duluth in time, avoiding the rare but costly scenario of a ship being trapped for the winter.
About Polsteam and Its Fleet
Miedwie is operated by Polsteam (Polish Steamship Company), one of the largest dry bulk ship operators in Europe. Polsteam manages a fleet of 52 vessels with a combined deadweight capacity exceeding 2 million tonnes.
The company’s bulk carriers fall primarily into two categories. HANDYSIZE vessels range from 30,000 to 39,000 DWT, while PANAMAX ships range from 80,000 to 82,000 DWT. In addition to bulk carriers, the Polsteam Group also operates ferries through its Unity Line subsidiary, including the ferries Polonia, Gryf, and Skania.
Miedwie Ship Specifications
Miedwie is classified as a laker-type bulk carrier, built specifically for operations in confined waterways like the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway. She was constructed in 2010 at Mingde Shipyard in Nantong, China, and currently sails under the Malta flag.
Her deadweight capacity is 30,481 tons, with a draft of 10.22 meters. The vessel measures 190 meters in length with a beam of 23.6 meters, dimensions well-suited for Seaway navigation while still allowing efficient ocean transit once she reaches the Atlantic.
