Cruise ship en route to Nunavut
Determination still pending from impact review board
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Monday, August 22, 2016
NUNAVUT
The 820-foot, 68,000-tonne, 13-deck luxury cruise ship Crystal Serenity embarked on its epic 32-day voyage through the Northwest Passage from a port in Alaska last week with all permits and licences in place, except the OK from the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB).
The luxury cruise ship Crystal Serenity, weighing 68,000 tonnes and measuring 250 metres long, is planning to sail from Seward, Alaska to New York City, NY, via Cambridge Bay, the Northwest Passage and Pond Inlet from Aug. 16 to Sept. 17. - photo courtesy of Crystal Cruises |
"The ship departed Seward on Aug. 16 and visited Kodiak, Alaska, and is at sea today en route to Dutch Harbor," director of global public relations Paul M. Garcia told Nunavut News/North Aug. 18.
Meanwhile, over at NIRB, the board had more than one application needing its attention.
"Yes, Crystal Serenity is still an active screening. The decision from the board is expected soon. I do not have an exact determination date. The board has a number of screenings before them for decision," said manager of technical administration Jaida Ohokannoak, also on Aug. 18.
The board's deadline was Aug. 12. However, the day before that deadline it requested a ministerial extension, which it received.
 | Company responses appear to address concerns | 
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"We have submitted all replies and information requested (by the board) and are proceeding as planned," said Garcia.
Latest developments on the Crystal Serenity file included a round of public comments and the opportunity for Crystal Cruises to address them, which it did. The board staff then conducted a completeness assessment.
Four pages of company responses appear to address concerns, which range from financial benefits for communities, both environmental and social disruption and other matters of oversight.
For example, destruction of sea ice was raised, with the potential to "disturb wildlife habitat and potentially arouse community concerns."
The company replied: "The voyage is timed to occur at the time of near minimum sea ice in the Northwest Passage, so will mainly be sailing in open water. The vessel is not equipped to break heavy ice and does not intend to do so, so we do not anticipate disturbing wildlife habitat. This vessel will avoid ice."
Perhaps more nebulous is the fact that this voyage presages many more to come.
This has been reported on extensively in the many weeks leading up to the Crystal Serenity's transit from Alaska to New York, via the Northwest Passage and Nunavut waters.
In fact, the Crystal Serenity application to NIRB was for two trips - the current one and a repeat in 2017. If that proves a sticking point for the board, it could attach conditions to a positive determination.
"It's not so much a yes or a no (to a project). The board has several options when it's making its decision. Can the project proceed with terms and conditions? Is a review required? Or are the impacts so grievous that the project should be modified or abandoned," NIRB director of technical services Tara Arko had previously told Nunavut News/North.
Asked what would happen next if the board issued a negative determination, a no go, essentially, Ohokannoak said,
"No matter what the decision, it is up to the minister(s) to agree or disagree with NIRB's determination to issue or not issue a permit or licence. Regulatory authority(s) who would be issuing the permits and licences are responsible for enforcement. It would be up to the regulatory authority to determine what happens next."
The regulatory authorities for the Crystal Serenity application are: Nunavut's minister of Economic Development and Transportation and Nunavut's minister of Culture and Heritage, Canada's minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard, and Canada's minister of Transport.
"Crystal management began carefully planning the idea of this transit in January 2013, working closely with community leaders, Transport Canada and the U.S. and Canadian Coast Guards," said Garcia.
"Throughout this entire process we have received the full support of local community leaders. Crystal is committed to ensuring that the local Inuit communities are positively impacted by our visit. We have been in constant communications with the local communities, Nunavut Tourism and the Nunavut Impact Review Board, to ensure that our visit will be embraced by the local communities and be respectful of their traditions and daily way of life."
Asked if the company has a contingency plan should it receive a negative determination from NIRB at this late hour, Garcia repeated, "We are proceeding as planned."
According to the company's website itinerary, by Aug. 28 the Serenity should be cruising Dolphin Strait and Union Strait, arriving at Cambridge Bay Aug. 29.
The company is maintaining a blog of the trip which can be followed through a link on its website.
