Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Sep 09/05) - An unusual landing attracted onlookers from Fort Simpson to the beachhead of the Mackenzie River, early Tuesday afternoon.

The Jock McNiven was forced to make an emergency stopover in the town of 1,200 after a deck hand broke several fingers.

While the crewman was expected to recover, the barge drew starry-eyed visitors after mooring on the sandy shoreline not far from downtown.

"This is the first time I've seen something like that," said 11-year-old Jared Kotchea, pointing at the vessel's five storey-high bridge.

"I could probably see my grandma and grandpa's house from there."

The McNiven, owned by Northern Transportation Company Limited, was returning from a week-long voyage to Norman Wells when a deck hand crushed several fingers during an accident, said crewman A.J. Norberg.

With its home port of Hay River still several days away, the barge stopped in Fort Simpson to offload the stricken worker, who was treated for his injuries.

The accident highlighted the dangers of working on barges, said Norberg, who lives in Hay River.

But the scenery of the Mackenzie River valley and the freedom of the job are hard to deny.

"I love waking up every morning in a different place," said Norberg, who eventually wants to become skipper.

The vessel usually hauls goods along the Mackenzie and drops them near Inuvik, where other barges transport them to the roadless communities of the eastern Arctic.

Norberg relishes the challenges of Northern sea-faring, but sometimes bone-chilling temperatures and plagues of insects make things difficult.

"Sometimes you have to make sure every window and hatch is closed, or you will be covered in bugs," he said.

The barge struck a chord with the half-dozen children who lined the shores for the brief time it was moored in Fort Simpson.

The McNiven, which can operated in just over one meter of water, was right beside the beach.

"It's really neat," said eight-year-old Logan Wright.