A tradition since 1835
The gold-headed cane is a tradition that dates back to 1835. It marks the arrival of the first ship of the year to the Port of Québec from overseas. The original object coveted by ship’s captains wasn’t a cane at all, but rather a goldplated snuffbox, snuff being very popular in those days.
We owe the tradition to John Munn, a Québec City shipbuilder. In 1833, Munn was the first person to cross the ocean to England on a steamboat built in Québec City. When he arrived, the authorities presented him with a gold snuffbox, which gave him the idea of doing the same thing back home. Eager to see an earlier start to the navigating season, Québec City’s shopkeepers made the tradition their own. In the second half of the 19th century, the Québec Port Authority took over from the shopkeepers to keep the custom alive. Before the advent of a winter sailing season in 1959, the gold-headed cane was awarded only in the spring, once winter conditions had subsided. Now that there’s a winter sailing season, the first ship of the year to dock at the Port of Québec raises anchor in early January.
Today, the Québec Port Authority is proud to carry on one of the finest traditions in the city’s maritime and commercial history. As a coveted prize, the gold-headed cane remains a symbol of cooperation between the Port’s clients and users, administration, and service providers.
Here are the latest recipients of the Gold-Headed Cane:
Winning ship history
| DATE | Ship | Vessel's flag | Captain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2nd 2023 | Star Lydia | Malta | Joselito S. Claridad |
| January 3rd 2022 | Federal Hunter | Russia | Kandangama Deniyegedara |
| January 1st 2021 | Mirella S. | Barbados | Ivan Pauk |
| January 2nd 2020 | Cap Theodora | Greek | Theofanis A. Spoutis |
| January 2nd 2019 | M/T Cap Quebec | Greek | Nikolaos Steiakakis |
| January 2nd 2018 | Cap Romuald | Greek | Georgios N. Chouliaris |
| January 3rd 2017 | USMA | Marshall Islands | Rolands Doniks |
| January 1st 2016 | Apollon | Bahamas | Sergey Teplov |
| January 1st 2015 | ISTRA | Croatia | Damir Tansek |
| January 2nd 2014 | Bristish Cormorant | Isle of man | Mohammad Iqbal Husain Kapadi |
| January 2nd 2013 | Pomer | Croatia | Markotić Tomislav |
| January 4th 2012 | Federal Rideau | Hong Kong | Sunil Kumar Vij |
| January 2nd 2011 | MCT Matterhorn | Swiss | Igors Krutijs |
| January 5th 2010 | MCT Matterhorn | Swiss | Davor Oguic |
| January 5th 2009 | Apostolos | Liberian | Andrei Iustinian |
| January 1st 2008 | Silvretta | Swedish | Sergiv Ryabchenko |
| January 1st 2007 | Cap Georges | Greek | Nikolaos Sarris |
| January 1st 2006 | Minerva Anna | Maltese | Adonios Adipas |
| January 3rd 2005 | Federal Kushiro | Panamanian | Mun-Sig Shin |
| January 3rd 2004 | Saamis Adventurer | Panamanian | Cedomir Bacic |
| January 2nd 2003 | Cap Laurent | Greek | Panagiotis Vandoros |
| January 2nd 2002 | Jamar | Panamanian | Arthur M. Garcia |
| January 8th 2001 | Cap Romuald | Greek | Georgios Kodonakis |
| January 4th 2000 | Cap Jean | Greek | Topalidis Damianos |
| January 6th 1999 | Bow Hunter | Norwegian | Monrad Solli |
| January 3rd 1998 | Eirini L. | Greek | Vasilios Papazis |
| January 3rd 1997 | Nandu | Liberian | Rohit Soti |
| January 4th 1996 | Eirini L. | Greek | Georgios Kodonakis |
| January 2nd 1995 | Chanda | Liberian | Rohit Soti |
| January 1st 1994 | Tromso Fedelity | Liberian | Sergey Dolgish |
| January 1st 1993 | Lark Lake | Liberian | Wang Yude |
| January 2nd 1992 | Marshall Zakharov | Russian | Valery Serashov |
| January 3rd 1991 | Kapitan Putilin | Soviet | Anatoly Tsay |
| January 1st 1990 | Choctaw | Hong Kong (Brit.) | Umesh Rajnikant Thakore |
| January 1st 1989 | M/V Falcon | Norwegian | Olé Kristian Knapp |
| January 1st 1988 | Eleni M. | Maltese | Manuel Punsalang |
| January 1st 1987 | Bonny | Bahamien | Veli-Matti Lehtonen |
| January 5th 1986 | Nilam | Czechoslovakian | Guiliano Folco |
| January 1st 1985 | Suzuran | Japanese | Rokuji Azuma |
| January 8th 1984 | Mohawk | Liberian | Lodewyk H. De Beer |
| January 5th 1983 | Golden Endeavor | Venezuelan | E. Thomas Hogan |
| January 3rd 1982 | Grand Eagle | Panamanian | Chao Shu Chang |
| January 2nd 1981 | Gaviota II | Panamanian | Görges Benno |
| January 5th 1980 | Artic Star | Liberian | Alexander L. Cathro |
| January 7th 1979 | Marielia | Liberian | Lothar Maxwitat |
| January 1st 1978 | C.P. Discoverer | British | Alan R. Whyte |
| January 1st 1977 | C.P. Trader | British | John Waling |
| January 4th 1976 | Texaco Brighton | Panamanian | Fabio Sidari |
| January 2nd 1975 | Golden Swan | British | Georgios N. Kypraios |
| January 2nd 1974 | C.P. Voyageur | British | Alan Moat |
| January 4th 1973 | Souvretta | Liberian | Dimitrios Xenos |
| January 3rd 1972 | M.S. Moshill | Norwegian | Odd. E. Skoie |
| January 2nd 1971 | C.P. Ambassador | British | B.O.H. Brown |
| January 2nd 1970 | Beavermondo | British | Georg Rohrssen |
| January 2nd 1969 | Beaverpine | British | P.J. Roberts |
| January 2nd 1968 | Beaverpine | British | E.F. Aikman |
| January 18th 1967 | M.S. Sydland | Norwegian | V. Freibergs |
| January 18th 1966 | Caxton | British | C.A. Smith |
| January 9th 1965 | Beaverpine | British | J.A.N. Bezant |
| January 8th 1964 | Beaverpine | British | J.A.N. Bezant |
| January 1st 1963 | M.V. Eskimo | Canadian | WM. H. Cowie |
| January 1st 1962 | M.V. Fort Chambly | Canadian | WM. H. Cowie |
| January 4th 1961 | M.S. Thora Dan | Danish | Svend Houmann |
| January 3rd 1960 | S.S. Baskerville | British | R.J. Lungley |
| February 13th 1959 | M.S. Helga Dan | Danish | H. Bjerregaard |
| March 31st 1958 | S.S. Sarek | Swedish | B.G. Edlund |
| April 1st 1957 | S.S. Mormacmail | American | Otto Heitman |
| April 7th 1956 | S.S. Italmace | Italian | Fernando Guido CUM, CMG |
| April 8th 1955 | S.S. Violando | Liberian | John Galanos |
| April 14th 1954 | S.S. Isaac Carter | British | R.J. Lungley |
| April 7th 1953 | S.S. Eileneau | German | S. Petersen |
| April 8th 1952 | S.S. Surna | Norwegian | T. Magdahl |
| April 18th 1951 | S.S. Seythia | British | J.V. Locke, R.D. RNR |
| April 17th 1950 | S.S. Franconia | British | W.M. Steeart O.B.E. |
| May 6th 1949 | S.S. Fort Highfield | British | Bert Ryan |
| April 23rd 1948 | S.S. Graiglas | British | J.B. Fairgrieve |
| May 30th 1947 | S.S. Ocean Vesper | British | W. Sinclair |
| April 11th 1946 | S.S. Danfy | British | J.R. Copping |
| April 23rd 1945 | S.S. Salamu | British | Sydney Lubetter |
| April 24th 1944 | Margarita Chandris | Greek | Simon Triantafilakis |
| May 25th 1943 | Brac Side | British | Pickering |
| May 13th 1942 | S.S. Innerton | British | R. Pattrick |
| May 12th 1941 | S.S. Lyras | Greek | Patteras |
| May 4th 1940 | S.S. Yearby | British | G.M. Hudson |
| April 24th 1939 | S.S. Duches of Atholl | British | W.B. Coyle R.D. RNR |
| April 23rd 1938 | S.S. Kirnwood | British | F. Chilton F.R.G.S. |
| April 23rd 1937 | Empress of Australia | British | W.G. Busk-Wood |
| April 24th 1936 | Wearwood | British | D. Sutherland |
| April 23rd 1935 | SS Atna | Norwegian | Z. Svendsen |
| April 28th 1934 | Briarwood | British | G. Imrie |
| April 23rd 1933 | Empress of Australia | British | E. Griffith |
| May 3rd 1930 | Empress of Scotland | British | J. Turnbull |