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The ship was recently purchased by Desgagnes Transarctik Inc., and is the tenth cargo vessel the company employs.
 The cargo vessel Camilla Desgagnes will be a familiar sight around the Kivalliq region this coming sealift season. - Photo courtesy of Desgagnes Transarctik Inc. |
The vessel has the potential to improve the level of service to the Kivalliq region at many levels, says general manager Waguih Rayes.
He says the Camilla Desgagnes has the optimal capacity (16,000 cubic metres per voyage) today's sealifts require.
"This vessel will allow us to take more cargo per voyage and have a positive affect on the rapidity of our delivery," says Rayes.
"Last year, we had to increase our number of voyages to supply the cargo ordered by clients," he says.
"This year, we will be able to deliver bigger quantities per voyage."
As efficient as the new vessel is, however, the key to a successful sealift is cargo being ready at loading time.
Rayes says Transarctik has to work harder at making clients aware of the importance of cutoff dates.
"The cargo has to be delivered to us on time in order for us to optimize the operation and avoid delays in delivery," he said.
"Ships leaving port without a full load don't do anyone any good."
The Camilla Desgagnes is equipped with elevators and side doors to make it more efficient when loading and unloading cargo.
A tailgate adds to its versatility, especially when off-loading. Cranes are essential to off-loading cargo in the North, and Rayes says the company is looking at adding a sixth crane to the vessel before the sealift begins.
"If we have the time, we'll install a crane, which is a piece of equipment we'll have to purchase in Europe," he says.
"If not, we'll install a mobile crane for the duration of the sealift season."
Rayes says the Camilla Desgagnes can also take more containers -- proportionately to its capacity -- than smaller vessels.
"We can still mix containers and general cargo, but her design allows us to put containers anywhere in the ship without losing cargo efficiency. We'll see exactly what she's capable of during her first voyage and, at the same time, learn how to make her as efficient as possible," says Rayes.
