Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Nov 15/99) - Volume shipped through the Coast Guard's 1999 sealift was similar to last year's level, says Ross MacDonald, the Coast Guard's arctic affairs director.

He estimated volume at about 12,000 tonnes, similar to goods moved in 1998, which was well up from the 9,000 tonnes shipped in 1997.

Nunavut's capital was the busiest destination. Coast Guard-contracted vessels shipped in materials for Iqaluit's new federal building as well as for city infrastructure needs.

"This year was definitely a busy freight year for Iqaluit," MacDonald said.

MacDonald said one of the more interesting points on this year's sealift involved the community of Pelly Bay.

"We had four trips into Pelly Bay instead of two," he said.

Because of difficult ice conditions, sealift goods for Pelly Bay are commercially hauled to Nanisivik then taken by Coast Guard ice-breaker to Pelly Bay. The community required more freight than usual this year, MacDonald said.

Ice-breakers are needed for this leg to Pelly Bay due to multi-year sea-ice conditions north of the community.

The Coast Guard has now finished its second year of a three-year contract with the Nunavut Government to supply freight purchased by Nunavut Government and federal government departments operating. The last ship returned to Montreal about two weeks ago. Fourteen Nunavut communities in the Baffin, Foxe Basin and High Arctic are resupplied under the Coast Guard co-ordinated sealift.

Kivalliq is serviced out of the Port of Churchill and Northern Transportation Company Ltd. services Kitikmeot communities.

The Coast Guard will begin talks with the Nunavut Government later this year on the transition of sealift from the Coast Guard to the Nunavut Government. Eastern leaders may opt to extend the deal.

"Our view is we will be there as long as the Nunavut Government wants us to assist," MacDonald said.

The Coast Guard contracted with Montreal-based Transport Desganes and Nunavut Ocean Transport, which is teamed with Pangnirtung's Crosbie Shipping, for the 1999 sealift.

"We encourage private shippers (customers) to use the sealift. Sealift gives the lowest price possible."

And through competitive bidding, sealift prices have been lowered over the past 10 years, MacDonald said.