AWM/BAY at this point are only going to be shipping 1 or 2 shipments of high grade Copper concentrate a year. Compare that to Baffin Island.
When does the shipping season begin?
In 2022, once certain minimum requirements have been met, Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation will begin its shipping activities. These requirements include no presence of landfast ice along the entire Northern Shipping Route, and confirmation that the Pond Inlet floe edge has been closed.
Baffinland will continue implementing mitigation measures for the 2022 shipping season, in direct response to Inuit input. As we did in 2021, Baffinland is delaying the start of the shipping season until icebreaking is no longer required for ore carriers sailing towards Milne Port, in an effort to reduce potential cumulative impacts to narwhal during this sensitive period of time. As a result of this decision, the 2022 shipping season will only commence once a continuous path of 3/10ths or less ice concentration is present, between the entrance of Eclipse Sound and Milne Port. An icebreaker will not be used to break ice or as an escort for ore carriers if ice is greater than 3/10ths ice concentration at the start of the shipping season.
This season, Baffinland is also planning to use convoys, where vessels travel in a group, to further reduce total underwater sound exposure. This will reduce both the frequency of observed vessels throughout the season, and any potential interactions with hunters. The final shipping schedule, including the start of shipping season, will depend on prevailing ice conditions. Once initiated, shipping is scheduled to continue until mid-to-late October.
What are the concerns to local Inuit communities about shipping through the Northern Shipping Route?
- The potential for shipping to interfere with local hunting.
- The potential for vessels to affect marine mammals.
- The potential for shipping activity to harm the health of the marine ecosystem.
How has Baffinland addressed these concerns?
Baffinland is committed to monitoring any potential effects of shipping activities. Here are some of the measures we will implement to manage and mitigate potential issues:
- Baffinland vessels will not break through landfast ice and will wait for confirmation that the floe edge has been closed before entering Eclipse Sound. In 2022, the shipping season will only start once there is a continuous path of 3/10ths or less ice concentration between the entrance of Eclipse Sound and Milne Port.
- No more than 80 ore carriers will be chartered, should Baffinland be approved to transport up to 6 mtpa. In addition, convoys will be used to further reduce total underwater sound exposure.
- Vessels will travel as closely as possible to the approved Northern Shipping Route, but may deviate at times to ensure safe sailing conditions. We have a notification system that alerts Baffinland staff if any Baffinland vessels are travelling above the speed limit (maximum of 9 knots) or outside the approved Northern Shipping Route.
- A maximum of three vessels can be anchored at Ragged Island or drifting in Eclipse Sound at any one time. Drifting will be avoided if possible, unless warranted for safety.
- All Baffinland vessels will follow the Standing Instructions to Masters, which provides information to vessel captains on speed limits, the shipping route, and anchorage locations.
- Ore carriers will not discharge grey water, sewage or ballast water in Eclipse Sound. Ballast water is only discharged at Milne Port, after compliance testing.
- Full-time Shipping Monitors will be available in the Baffinland Pond Inlet office, to support daily tracking and viewing of vessels passing through Eclipse Sound all the way to Milne Port.
- Baffinland will continue to work with community members, Hunters and Trappers Organizations and hamlets to ensure that all concerns related to shipping activities are considered.
https://www.baffinland.com/operation/shipping-and-monitoring/
Long BAY..