What Crew Members Say About Federal-Kumano

On May 16, 2018, two of the three vessels stranded at Toledo's port due to a labor dispute between local longshoremen and a stevedore, successfully set sail after receiving approval from the U.S. Coast Guard. The situation was complicated by port pilots' refusal to cross a picket line established by International Longshoremen’s Association Local 1982, which hindered the ships' movements. The Canadian shipping company Fednav, owners of the 'Federal Champlain' (IMO: 9267910) and 'Federal Kumano' (IMO: 9253903), initially requested a waiver from Coast Guard regulations to allow crew maneuverability without a pilot, but this request was denied. However, a second plan received the green light, enabling tugs to assist the vessels, pulling them approximately 500 feet from the dock before pilots could take over for their onward journeys. The 'Federal Champlain' had faced delays of around ten days, while the 'Federal Kumano' experienced a shorter standoff. This disruption was a strategic move by the union in their ongoing negotiations with Midwest Terminals, the dock's stevedore operator working under contract with the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. Following the departure, the 'Federal Kumano' moved toward Maumee Bay, on its way to Sarnia, Ontario, while the 'Federal Champlain' made its way upstream to the ADM grain elevator on Miami Street to load soybean cargo bound for Italy.