A timeline of Fednav history through the years: Visit important events in our history timeline below by either selecting the vertical bars indicating milestone years or the navigation buttons.

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1944

September 7, 1944: Federal Commerce & Navigation Company Limited is founded in Toronto, Canada

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1946

1946: Company buys first vessel, the Federal Pioneer, ex-Bell Park and begins trading

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1951

1951: Statement of Actual Ship Operating Costs

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1955

1955: Fednav instrumental in performing Arctic community resupply and servicing DEW Line sites beginning in the 1950s

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1959

June 26, 1959: The St. Lawrence Seaway opens

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1959

Also in 1959, FALLine (then Federal Atlantic Lakes Lines) is the established steel carrier for Europe to the Lakes

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1962

1962: Time-chartered fleet peaks at 32 ships while the Patignies, our first owned newbuilding bulk carrier, is delivered to the company

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1965

1965: FMT is incorporated in Chicago; recognized worldwide as an industry leader in North American marine terminal operations

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1970

1970: Sees the growth of the regular full cargoes of sugar from South Africa

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1972

1972: Laurentian Forest is delivered. Also during this year, Fednav transports its full cargo of Australian sugar. Additionally, it proves to be the greatest Arctic year with 14 sailings.

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1973

1973: Delivery of two Ro-Ros, the Avon Forest and the Federal Avalon

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1978

1978: The MV Arctic commissioned and built at the Port Weller Dry Docks, it is powerful enough to navigate through ice-covered waters unescorted

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1978

1978: Our Avon Forest rescues boat of Vietnamese refugees

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1980

1980: Delivery of the Amazon, our first Capesize bulk carrier

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1985

1985: Long-term contract is signed with Cominco for the transportation of concentrates from their new Red Dog mine in the Bering Sea

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1994

1994: Fednav celebrates its 50th anniversary and begins using the internet and email

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1995

In 1995, after more than 17 years of operating the vessel, Fednav acquires the MV Arctic from the Canadian government

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1999

1999: FALLine (Fednav Atlantic Lakes Lines) celebrates its 40th anniversary

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2002

2002: Federal Weser christened in Montreal

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2006

2006: The Umiak I is delivered; at this time, the highest ice-class cargo vessel in the world

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2008

2008: With the 2008 global economy crash, the dry bulk cargo shipping rates plunged to a 28-year low

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2009

2009: At the inaugural IBJ award, we win two prizes—one for Bulk Ship of the Year and the other for Bulk Ship Operator of the year; we have won six more awards since then

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2011

2011: Seeing a great opportunity in Southeast Asia, India, and the Middle East, Fednav opens a new office in Singapore as an ideal base from which to develop those opportunities

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2013

2013: Our Greening The Office committee and new environmental policy for offices launched in Montreal office; employees participate in the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup

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2014

2014: Historical voyage of the Nunavik through the Northwest Passage

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2016

2016: Paul Pathy becomes Fednav’s sole CEO

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2019

2019: On March 26, our Federal Kumano launches both the St. Lawrence Seaway's 60th anniversary opening and our 75th anniversary celebrations. Happy birthday, Fednav!

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2023

Recognized as a top employer in Montreal for 12th consecutive year and Top Employer for Young people in Canada from 2014-2021.