VANCOUVER, Wash. – Port of Vancouver USA representatives and other special guests climbed 100 feet to the top deck of the M/V Rigel Leader on the port’s 100-year anniversary to welcome the ship, commanded by Capt. David Mammen Cherian of India, on her maiden voyage to the United States on April 6, 2012.
In addition, the event also commemorated the M/V Rigel Leader as the Port of Vancouver’s First Vessel of the Next Century. The port celebrated its centennial at its 2012 Port Re:Port breakfast at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, shortly before the M/V Rigel Leader began discharging 659 automobiles for Subaru of America. The ceremony following the annual state-of-the-port event marked the M/V Rigel Leader as the first ship to call on the Port of Vancouver during it second 100 years.

Cherian and his 23-member crew were welcomed to Vancouver by Mayor Timothy Leavitt, Vancouver port manager for Subaru Ann Tetreault, superintendent for Ports America Mike Munson, vessel agent for Inchcape Shipping Services Gary Martinke, and port representatives Commissioner Nancy Baker, Executive Director Larry Paulson, Alastair Smith, Debbie Taylor, Mike Schiller, Addison Jacobs, Theresa Wagner, Katie Odem, and Mackenzie Field.

Chief Engineer K. Raghuram, Chief Officer Pradeep Mansabdar, First Assistant Engineer P.P. Jathar and Mitsubishi representative Tetsuya Yamada were present as well. The M/V Rigel Leader was built in Marugame, Japan and was delivered March 8, 2012. The vessel is 656 feet in length and has a deadweight capacity of 18,884 tons. The crew for the vessel’s first visit to the Port of Vancouver USA was from India and the Philippines. The vessel is owned by FPG Shipholding Panama 5 S.A. and operated by NYK Ship Management. Inchcape Shipping Services is the agent for the vessel.

The M/V Rigel Leader sailed from Marugame, Japan and will discharge 5,120 vehicles during her journey. The vessel departed the Port of Vancouver on April 6 and will unload motor vehicles in Richland and San Diego before starting her second voyage.

Group photo, from left: Gary Martinke, Inchcape Shipping Services; Alastair Smith, Port of Vancouver, Commissioner Nancy Baker, Port of Vancouver; K. Raghuram, Rigel Leader; Larry Paulson, Port of Vancouver; David Cherian; Rigel Leader; Mayor Timothy Leavitt, city of Vancouver; Ann Tetreault, Subaru of America; Mike Munson, Ports America; Addison Jacobs, Port of Vancouver and Pradeep Mansabdar, Rigel Leader

About the Port of Vancouver USA

The Port of Vancouver USA is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2012. It is one of the major ports on the Pacific Coast, and its competitive strengths include available land, versatile cargo handling capabilities, vast transportation networks, a dependable labor force and an exceptional level of service to its customers and community. For more information, please visit us at www.portvanusa.com.