DULUTH, Minn. - Every year, the first "saltie," or ocean-going vessel, to reach Duluth is a special moment.
It signifies the beginning of spring and the end of the long winter.
Every year since 1984, Visit Duluth and the Duluth Seaway Port Authority have turned the event into a contest for Lake Superior-lovers everywhere.
Take your best guess at the exact date and time of the first saltie to pass under the Aerial Lift Bridge and submit it to visitduluth.com/firstship. The first and second-place winners will get a Duluth getaway, including lodging, gift cards to local restaurants, and passes to several attractions.
Last year's winner was off by only two minutes, as the Lake Ontario arrived at 5:32 p.m. on April 2.
The latest arrival on record was the Diana on May 7, 2014, which was delayed by ice. The earliest was the Federal Hunter on March 30, 2013.
The contest closes at midnight on March 25.
