Chinese barges headed for Canadian Northwest Territories on cross-continental delivery mission
The COVID-19 pandemic may be delaying deliveries across Canada, but it’s not stopping four new barges from travelling from China to Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T., this summer.
Marine Transportation Services (MTS) is expecting the new fleet this August, arriving on a heavy-lift ship from Beijing.
Steve Hagerman, the director of MTS, the N.W.T. government-owned barge company, said the cross-continental delivery would’ve been noteworthy, even if the country wasn’t already in the midst of a pandemic.
Barges bring critical fuel and other dry goods to Arctic coastal and Mackenzie River communities every summer in both the N.W.T. and Nunavut.
Hagermen said these four barges are part of a new series that are made specifically to handle large volumes of fuel products. With the increased capacity, it will allow MTS to decrease the number of deliveries into some communities.
The CBC asked a spokesperson for the Department of Infrastructure how much the barges cost and the name of the Chinese company that is supplying them, but did not receive a response.
Hagerman said, so far, organizing the delivery has been going better than he anticipated — despite the shipyard in China shutting down “for well over a month” since the height of the pandemic in March.
Another concern has been that, like the N.W.T., China has been seeing high water levels, and the country is dealing with severe flooding.
COVID-19 restrictions
Nunakput MLA Jackie Jacobson said the new barges are going to be a big deal for his riding and other Arctic coastal communities.
With the ships coming in during COVID-19 restrictions, the government and MTS will have to ensure proper physical distancing and safety procedures are followed to keep everyone safe, Jacobson said. That will include no intermingling between residents and the crew.
“We haven’t seen any big boats since last year, so it will be good to see,” said Jacobson.
Hagerman, with MTS, said the heavy-lift ship is slated to head overseas with the barges on July 28.
It should arrive about 14 days later, depending on the weather.
Hagerman said the new vessels won’t be replacing any current barges, and although these vessels are generally used on the ocean, they can also be used on rivers.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: In unique shipping operation, two big lift ships choose Russian Arctic route for delivery to south Siberia, The Independent Barents Observer
China: US sanctions against Chinese shipping company could hurt Russia’s LNG exports, The Independent Barents Observer
Finland: Finland’s aging icebreaker fleet needs modernization, Yle News
Norway: Hybrid-powered electric cruise ship navigates Northwest Passage, CBC News
Russia: Arctic shipments to Asia grow as LNG carriers shuttle to eastern markets, The Independent Barents Observer
Why the hell is China building a large ferry for Eastern Canada. The Canadian ship yards should have been awarded the contract. Shame on you Justin Trudeau for giving this to CHINA. You should be gone.
Again the Nunavut area ordered 4 large barges from China. This is ridiculous. We have to support Canadian shipyards any factories, tech businesses etc. The Liberal Gov’t seem to forget that we still have 2 Michael’s in jail. Huawai Ms Meng is only house arrest. She should be thrown in jail just like the 2 Michael’s and see how the Chinese Country likes that.I am sick and tired of catering to these foreign countries.
Trudeau wake up smell the coffee, start taking care of your own Canadian country,and Canadian citizens.Notice I said Canadian citizens .