Nunavut-bound cargo, tanker vessels due to arrive at Iqaluit

In an undated file photo, the Coast Guard vessel Henry Larsen lies anchored near the Nanny, a tanker operated by the Woodward’s group of Labrador. This week, the Henry Larsen is expected to lead the MV Umiavut and the Woodwards tanker Travestern through pack ice to Iqaluit. (FILE PHOTO)

The MV Umiavut, operated by Nunavut Eastern Arctic Shipping, is expected to drop anchor off Iqaluit later this week and begin offloading its cargo after it’s led through the pack ice of Frobisher Bay by the CCGS Henry Larsen. (FILE PHOTO)

As sealift season gets underway in the eastern Arctic this week, the first ships were expected to arrive in Iqaluit Wednesday evening, July 3 at the earliest, Coast Guard officials said.

The cargo vessel Umiavut, operated by Nunavut Eastern Arctic Shipping, and the tanker Travestern, operated by the Woodward Group of Companies, will make their way up Frobisher Bay to Iqaluit with the help of Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Henry Larsen, said officials with the Canadian Coast Guard’s Arctic office in Iqaluit.

Ice in Frobisher Bay is frozen to a depth of more than 120 centimetres for a distance of about 30 miles out from Iqaluit, which is normal for this time of year, said Benoit Simard, ice service specialist with Environment Canada and the Coast Guard.

The pack ice extends as far as a narrow passage, known as “the narrows,” he said, which is the only route deep enough to allow large vessels to reach Iqaluit.

“After the narrows into Frobisher Bay itself, toward Resolution Island, it’s all bergy water,” meaning about 90 percent ice-free water with icebergs, Simard said July 2.

The tanker Travestern was reported to be about 70 miles from Iqaluit, and the cargo ship Umiavut should be approaching Frobisher Bay from the Atlantic Ocean by midday July 2, according to marine traffic services in Iqaluit.

The CCGS Henry Larsen will meet the two vessels July 3, and begin leading them through the pack ice in the afternoon.

“The ships are basically waiting for the icebreaker to arrive,” said Andy Maillet, the coast guard’s superintendent of operations for central and Arctic regions.

A second icebreaker, the CCGS Pierre Radisson, will also assist ships headed for Iqaluit during the sealift season, Maillet said.

The Pierre Radisson will soon depart Quebec City for Iqaluit.

The coast guard’s marine traffic services office in Iqaluit, which monitors traffic throughout Arctic waters, expects 50 to 60 vessels to transport cargo and fuel to Iqaluit during the summer season.

Late-July will be the peak period, when about 20 ships are expected to unload items in the Nunavut capital.

Tankers unload oil, diesel and jet fuel directly at the city tank farm.

Cargo ships usually drop anchor in the bay and unload items by barge to the sealift beach area.