Canarctic study focuses on Coronation Gulf shipping

A shipping season of at least five months is commercially feasible for Coronation Gulf, N.W.T., according to a recent study on Arctic navigation.

The study looked at access to and from Coronation Gulf where, among other companies, Minnova (TSE) and Metall Mining (TSE) are contemplating development of their Izok Lake copper-zinc deposit.

Routes to the east, for European destinations, and to the west were examined in light of advances in ice navigation and ice-breaker design. One and possibly two ships need to be built plus an existing vessel upgraded to meet proposed “Canadian Arctic-class” standards. These ships will guarantee the transport of 400,000 tonnes of material annually, according to study findings published by Canarctic Shipping Co.

The study was carried out on behalf of a joint industry/government consortium. A new study will address the problem of finding year-round work for the vessels to defray their high capital cost. Other matters to be examined include detailed charting of Coronation Gulf waters, aboriginal land use and environmental issues.

Canarctic’s M.V. Arctic made headlines when, crunching through Arctic ice in early 1991, it demonstrated that an 8-month shipping season is practical for the Raglan nickel property of Falconbridge in northern Quebec.