Fednav serves as a prime example of change in the Canadian shipping industry.

The Montreal-based company operates 45 oceangoing ships capable of transiting the St Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes, more than the combined amount of its next closest competitors, Canada’s Canfornav and Poland's Polsteam.

Yet Fednav chief executive Paul Pathy says the Great Lakes only accounts for about one-quarter of its current business, down from the “classic Fednav days” when it was more than half.