First GN sealift arrives in Iqaluit

IQALUIT — The first Nunavut government sealift shipment arrived in port Sunday.

Previously managed by the Canadian Coast Guard, this year’s sealift was tendered out by the government of Nunavut to the N3 Alliance.

N3’s partners include the Inuit-owned Northern Transportation Company Limited, Arctic Co-ops Ltd., and Transport Desgagnés of Montreal. The two-year contract is worth about $6 million.

The alliance means bigger ships can be used in the sealift, resulting in lower unit costs for customers, including governments and Nunavut residents.

The deputy minister of public works and housing, Ross Mzarek, estimates the deal will save consumers 25-30 per cent on their sealift orders.

Stuffed with about 13,000 cubic metres of goods for Nunavut and between 3-4,000 cubic metres for Iqaluit, the Anna Dégagnes sailed from Resolution Island Saturday and arrived Sunday at 7:30 a.m.

Its usual crew of 22 was increased to 39 to help move cargo into Iqaluit.

Capt. Paul Cornelissen said the cargo hold was filled with everything from diapers to soft drinks to new snowmobiles.

The ship was expected to leave Tuesday for Kimmirut, and then continue on to nine other communities in Nunavut and Nunavik. There will be four more GN sealifts to Iqaluit and and seven more to Nunavut over the summer.