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Ice delays barge to Cambridge Bay

Shipment coming this weekend

Erin Fletcher
Northern News Services

Cambridge Bay (Sep 22/03) - Ice delayed the last barge shipment of the season to residents of Kugluktuk and Cambridge Bay.

Although the tow left Hay River Aug. 7, the barges were delayed by ice in the Beaufort Sea, said Lynette Storoz, marketing and traffic director for Northern Transportation Company Ltd.

"This is very, very normal," said Storoz. "We do have to deal with wind, weather and ice. This is a very delicate operation, especially when dealing with nature."

The shipment included 20 private orders, construction materials, retail goods and vehicles.

Storoz has received one official complaint about a late private order. But many public orders have also been delayed.

The hamlet office is missing a new sewage truck that may make it on the final shipment, said Cathy Aitaok.

Although she personally didn't have a barge order, her sister-in-law and brother did. But it came in earlier than expected.

Last week the order was found surrounded by a public works order that came in three weeks ago, said Aitaok.

"She was happy it was here," said Aitaok.

She said the first barge usually arrives in Cambridge Bay in early August and the final one leaves in late August.

"It comes when it comes and it has always been like that," she said, adding this is the first time she can remember the barge arriving in late September.

Every year is different, said Storoz. Most years Holman and Sachs Harbour get the first orders in because their ice clears out first.

"Unfortunately we can't schedule it like a bus line or an airline," said Storoz.

Fuel and necessities takes priority over all other orders.

As of Sept. 18 the barge was unloading in Kugluktuk before heading out to Cambridge Bay.

Cambridge Bay had more orders than usual this season, said Storoz. Last year the community received 2,000 tonnes of barge cargo. This year it was 3,200 tonnes, not counting the fuel drums.

Most of the extra tonnage was construction materials for hamlet and commercial projects.

When NTCL got word of the delay an extra vessel was sent out to help with the deliveries, said Storoz.

NTCL delivers more than 100,000 tonnes of goods to Northern communities every year.

Storoz said NTCL has never failed to deliver an order.

"Unfortunately someone's cargo has to be on the last barge."

The last barge was expected to arrive sometime this weekend.