Baffinland sealift season complete
Construction ramping up at Mary River and Milne Inlet Port sites
Daron Letts
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, October 10, 2013
BAFFIN
Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation completed its 2013 sealift season earlier this month, and now work is ramping up on mine and port infrastructure.
A tugboat pushes a barge back out to a Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation sealift to collect more cargo last month at Milne Inlet Port. The mining company off-loaded nine dry cargo and three fuel vessels during its sealift season, which ended early this month. - Mark Pike/Baffinland Iron Mines 2013 photo
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"Getting a full sealift in is a big accomplishment. It's a huge logistical challenge to get all that material shipped up there and off-loaded safely, and we're pretty pleased we've been able to do that." said Greg Missal, vice-president of corporate affairs. "It allows us to continue with our construction activities over the course of the winter."
During the sealift season, the corporation shipped up nine dry cargo and three fuel vessels, in which 32,600 tonnes of cargo, 33 million tonnes of Arctic diesel and 2.1 million litres of Jet A fuel was transported.
The freight was off-loaded at Milne Inlet Port site, with a portion of the cargo and fuel being transported along the 100-kilometre tote-road to the Mary River mine site.
The corporation spent about $60 million on shipping contracts and 33 million litres of fuel during the sealift season.
Construction of fuel containment, accommodations, truck shops, warehousing and road infrastructure is well underway at both the mine and port sites.
Approximately 300 workers are on the job at any given time, Missal said. Approximately one third of the workers come from North Baffin communities.
"Of course, our goal is to maximize our local employment," he added. "Hiring activities are continuing as well as our recruiting efforts in Nunavut and the Qikiqtani region specifically."
At the peak of construction throughout 2014, Missal said between 600 and 800 workers will be employed at the site, with half working a two-week rotation at any given time while the other half is off.
Truck driver and heavy equipment operator training programs and apprenticeship programs will be offered early in the coming year.
"Those are very good jobs and we're hoping people will be interested in taking advantage of those types of roles," Missal said.
Baffinland signed an Inuit Impact Benefit Agreement with the Qikiqtani Inuit Association on Sept. 6.
