First Big Ocean Ship to Hit Duluth Friday

DULUTH (AP) - Duluth residents will be able to watch the first ocean liner of the year sail into the harbor.

A ship christened "The Federal Hunter" was expected to dock in Duluth on Friday afternoon, beating the previous record for an ocean-going boat's arrival by three days. It also beats the record set for the type of boat - called a saltie -by more than a week.

The Federal Hunter, flagged in Hong Kong, started its voyage in Germany and stopped in Quebec before heading for Duluth, where it will pick up 15,000 metric tons of wheat. It's expected to head for Thunder Bay on Monday.

The Soo Locks - which open and close to let boats into Lake Superior from the other Great Lakes - opened March 25.