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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September 7, 1944: Federal Commerce & Navigation Company Limited is founded in Toronto, Canada
![](https://fednav.biz/sites/default/files/styles/history_timeline/public/federalpioneer2.jpg?itok=BB9d65wJ)
1946: Company buys first vessel, the Federal Pioneer, ex-Bell Park and begins trading
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1951: Statement of Actual Ship Operating Costs
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1955: Fednav instrumental in performing Arctic community resupply and servicing DEW Line sites beginning in the 1950s
![](https://fednav.biz/sites/default/files/styles/history_timeline/public/03b_1959_seawayfirstdaystamp.jpg?itok=eQHEQJu_)
June 26, 1959: The St. Lawrence Seaway opens
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Also in 1959, FALLine (then Federal Atlantic Lakes Lines) is the established steel carrier for Europe to the Lakes
![](https://fednav.biz/sites/default/files/styles/history_timeline/public/patignies02.jpg?itok=rv5iklSq)
1962: Time-chartered fleet peaks at 32 ships while the Patignies, our first owned newbuilding bulk carrier, is delivered to the company
![](https://fednav.biz/sites/default/files/styles/history_timeline/public/flyover_chicago1965.jpg?itok=XGEPyRCR)
1965: FMT is incorporated in Chicago; recognized worldwide as an industry leader in North American marine terminal operations
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1970: Sees the growth of the regular full cargoes of sugar from South Africa
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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: Delivery of two Ro-Ros, the Avon Forest and the Federal Avalon
![](https://fednav.biz/sites/default/files/styles/history_timeline/public/arctic_1.jpg?itok=qWKOTLFE)
1978: The MV Arctic commissioned and built at the Port Weller Dry Docks, it is powerful enough to navigate through ice-covered waters unescorted
![](https://fednav.biz/sites/default/files/styles/history_timeline/public/avonforest05.jpg?itok=qKYt0BLc)
1978: Our Avon Forest rescues boat of Vietnamese refugees
![](https://fednav.biz/sites/default/files/styles/history_timeline/public/09_amazon1981-1990.jpg?itok=OATic7tj)
1980: Delivery of the Amazon, our first Capesize bulk carrier
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1985: Long-term contract is signed with Cominco for the transportation of concentrates from their new Red Dog mine in the Bering Sea
![](https://fednav.biz/sites/default/files/styles/history_timeline/public/50thandinternetf_3.jpg?itok=qiVCazCW)
1994: Fednav celebrates its 50th anniversary and begins using the internet and email
![](https://fednav.biz/sites/default/files/styles/history_timeline/public/m.v.arctic.jpg?itok=RhDFZwyX)
In 1995, after more than 17 years of operating the vessel, Fednav acquires the MV Arctic from the Canadian government
![](https://fednav.biz/sites/default/files/styles/history_timeline/public/fallineat40.jpg?itok=3S2Dsi5m)
1999: FALLine (Fednav Atlantic Lakes Lines) celebrates its 40th anniversary
![](https://fednav.biz/sites/default/files/styles/history_timeline/public/federalweser2002.jpg?itok=B0Egf7jS)
2002: Federal Weser christened in Montreal
![](https://fednav.biz/sites/default/files/styles/history_timeline/public/copy_of_img_5872-1.jpg?itok=W9ewdRU3)
2006: The Umiak I is delivered; at this time, the highest ice-class cargo vessel in the world
![](https://fednav.biz/sites/default/files/styles/history_timeline/public/crashgraph_1.jpg?itok=vbPAO58v)
2008: With the 2008 global economy crash, the dry bulk cargo shipping rates plunged to a 28-year low
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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: 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
![](https://fednav.biz/sites/default/files/styles/history_timeline/public/shorelinecleanup_2.jpeg?itok=BO0Pdu4s)
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: Historical voyage of the Nunavik through the Northwest Passage
![](https://fednav.biz/sites/default/files/styles/history_timeline/public/pathypaulforwebsite_0.jpg?itok=fcmPO6ju)
2016: Paul Pathy becomes Fednav’s sole CEO
![](https://fednav.biz/sites/default/files/styles/history_timeline/public/federalkumano.jpeg?itok=Etl9-bgI)
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!
![](https://fednav.biz/sites/default/files/styles/history_timeline/public/picture2.png?itok=OqMDOZZK)
Recognized as a top employer in Montreal for 12th consecutive year and Top Employer for Young people in Canada from 2014-2021.