New icebreaking bulk carrier Nunavik

Delivered January 18, 2014, the brand new bulk carrier Nunavik arrived in Halifax March 20. Built by JMU Tsu shipyard in Japan, the ship is also a Polar 4 class icebreaker. Owners Fednav of Montreal ordered the ship to service a contract with  Canadian Royalties Ltd (a subsidiary of Jilin Jen Industry Co Ltd of China.) It will be in dedicated service from Royalties'  Nunavik Nickel Project in Deception Bay, QC, carrying nickel and copper concentrates to processors and returning with supplies and equipment for the mine. The ship will sail year round unescorted, and will not require government icebreaker assistance.

The ship measures 22,622 dwt, 24,997 dwt and is fitted with two 30 tonne and one 50 tonne cranes. It was designed and built by Sumitomo and Universal of Japan, and will join Fednav's two existing icebreaking bulk carriers, Arctic and Umiak I. Unlike those ships the new Nunavik is not registered in Canada. It flies the Marshal Islands flag since it will be trading between Deception Bay and Europe or Asia.

Speculation abounds that the ship will inaugurate the first regular shipping route through Northwest Passage, but for now it will run to Europe.

p.s. The ship sailed at 4 pm today direct for Deception Bay. Its icebreaking skill will soon be put to the test, as it will need to sail through heavy ice to pass Newfoundland. Its destination on Hudson Strait will certainly be clogged with ice.

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