The Top Hat Ceremony: Welcoming the First Saltie of the Season

Captain Igor Baturin of the MV Blacky is honoured as Toronto’s historic Top Hat tradition marks the arrival of the first saltie and the beginning of the shipping season

Each spring, the arrival of the first ocean-going vessel, known locally as a “saltie,” marks the official start of the shipping season at the Port of Toronto. At the centre of this long-standing tradition is the iconic Top Hat Ceremony, a ritual that has evolved over more than 160 years while remaining deeply tied to the city’s maritime identity, trade, and history.

A tradition rooted in Toronto’s early growth

First established in 1861, the ceremony was originally bintroduced under the Port’s first Harbour Master, Hugh Richardson, as a way to encourage early arrivals of ships carrying essential building materials and goods needed for a rapidly growing Toronto.

The tradition’s centrepiece is a historic ceremonial top hat made of silk that normally rests in our archives. Once considered a “key to the city,” the hat is still used to crown the captain of the first arriving vessel each season, continuing a legacy of hospitality and celebration.

Historically, the ceremony also reflects the Port’s role as a gateway for essential imports like sugar, salt and construction materials—goods that continue to define its operations today.

This year’s ceremony: MV Blacky leads the season

This year’s ceremony once again highlighted both tradition and evolution.

The first vessel to arrive was the MV Blacky, a sugar carrier originating from Cyprus and transporting raw cane sugar from Brazil to Canada. The ship carried an extraordinary cargo of approximately 19,300,270 metric tonnes of raw cane sugar, underscoring the scale of global supply chains that connect directly to Toronto’s waterfront.

Captain Igor Baturin was honoured in the ceremony and formally crowned with the historic silk top hat, continuing the long-standing ritual that has defined the start of the shipping season for generations.

The arrival is especially significant given the destination of much of this cargo: Redpath Sugar, located just steps from downtown Toronto. As the largest sugar refinery in Canada, Redpath plays a central role in processing imported raw sugar into products used in Toronto’s extensive food manufacturing sector and across the country, making the connection between ship and city both immediate and essential.

Continuity, change and connection

What makes the Top Hat Ceremony remarkable is not just its age, but its continuity. While ships change, captains rotate, and global trade routes evolve, the core ritual remains intact: the first saltie arrives, the hat is presented, and Toronto’s shipping season officially begins.

The tradition reflects both the heritage and ongoing relevance of the Port of Toronto as a vital inland port. It remains a living link between Toronto’s waterfront, its industries and the global networks that sustain the city.

As another season begins, the ceremony once again reminds us that while the world continues to change, some traditions remain steadfast, anchoring the present to the past, one ship at a time.