Port of Sept-Îles receives the St. Lawrence award

SEPT-ÎLES, October 27, 2010 – As part of Quebec Marine Day, the Port of Sept-Îles was named winner of the St. Lawrence Award from the St. Lawrence Economic Development Council (SODES) during an event held in the National Assembly in the company of elected officials and marine industry representatives.

The St. Lawrence Award is given annually to recognize exceptional results and projects that have contributed to the economic development or enhancement of the St. Lawrence River while respecting sustainable development principles.

The Port of Sept-Îles received the award for its overall achievements in the past year. Thanks to the federal government’s economic stimulus program and the provincial-federal St. Lawrence cruise industry development program, the Port realized more than $85 million in capital activities, allowing expansion of the Pointe-Noire and La Relance port terminals and construction of a new cruise ship dock. These activities have also generated significant spinoffs, with more than a quarter billion dollars invested when the private sector is included and the creation of many jobs and major contracts for the St. Lawrence and North Shore maritime business community.

In particular, these investments will make it possible to triple business volume at the Pointe-Noire terminal, optimize the La Relance terminal (the biggest aluminum industry terminal in the Americas), and develop the area as a new cruise ship stopover on the St. Lawrence River.

The Port will also welcome the arrival of three new iron industry partners with the signing of agreements for new business volumes equivalent to 15 million tons a year.

“This prestigious honor from the maritime industry, combined with the AQTR Transportation Excellence Award received in May, tops off a truly exceptional year for the Port of Sept-Îles. These successes and accomplishments were made possible, above all, thanks to the close collaboration between the Port of Sept-Îles and its partners! We are very pleased to receive this recognition and share it with all our partners, since the award highlights the Port’s and its users’ valuable contribution to wealth creation on the St. Lawrence River,” said Mr. Gagnon and Mr. Soucy, respectively Port of Sept-Îles president and CEO and chairman of the board.

ABOUT THE PORT OF SEPT-ÎLES
Boasting a variety of state-of-the-art facilities, the Port of Sept-Îles is one of North America’s leading iron ore ports and in 2011 will become Canada’s second largest in terms of expected annual volume handled, with over 35 million tons. Sept-Îles’ port facilities play a vital and strategic role in the operation of a number of businesses from the region’s primary sector. The Port’s annual economic impact is estimated at nearly $1 billion, with some 4,000 direct and indirect jobs. Port activity at the Port of Sept-Îles therefore remains a significant source of wealth creation in Quebec and Canada.

ABOUT SODES
The St. Lawrence Economic Development Council (SODES) is a nonprofit organization tasked with representing and promoting the economic interests of the St. Lawrence marine industry while respecting the key principles of sustainable development. Its members, who represent all segments of the maritime community, include ship owners, ports, maritime transport shippers-users, stevedoring companies, marine terminals, pilot corporations, port cities, and many others. SODES acts as a leader and spokesperson for the St. Lawrence maritime community.

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Port of Sept-Îles inaugurates its cruise ship dock

SEPT-ÎLES, October 4, 2010 – The Port of Sept-Îles, the City of Sept-Îles, and the Innu Takuaikan Uashat mak Mani-Utenam (ITUM) Band Council—the three pioneering partners involved in promoting the region’s development as an international cruise ship port of call—proudly inaugurated a brand new cruise ship dock today.

Attending the inaugural ceremony were Nicole Ménard, Québec’s Minister of Tourism, accompanied by Serge Simard, Minister responsible for the North Shore region and Minister for Natural Resources and Wildlife, along with numerous distinguished guests and representatives from area communities. The dignitaries took part in a symbolic ribbon cutting to open the new dock, which marked the historic occasion by receiving its first ship, the Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Spirit.

It was a case of “mission accomplished” for the Pomerleau company, whose dedicated employees helped deliver this new gem of regional strategic infrastructure on time, on budget, and, most importantly, without workplace accidents.

It also should be noted that the financial partnership between the federal and provincial governments was made possible by Canada Economic Development’s Support Initiative for International Cruise Development and Tourisme Québec’s Programme d’aide à la stratégie des croisières, which covered two-thirds of the costs, while local partners took on equal one-third shares of the remaining investment, which totaled $20.6 million.

“We are thrilled to welcome this first cruise ship to our dock,” said Carol Soucy, Chairman of the Board of the Port of Sept-Îles. “We hope that ‘the locals’ will come out to share this memorable event, seeing the Norwegian Spirit off and making this new development tool for our beautiful region their own.”

“The vitality of these partners enabled us to seize the opportunity to benefit from significant aid programs that will also improve our tourist infrastructure and facilities,” said Sept-Îles mayor Serge Lévesque, adding that to date, significant economic spinoffs of nearly $1.5 million will have been generated for the first two seasons.

The Innu community sees the project as the ideal springboard to promote and enhance its singular and distinctive touristic offering. “This is a wonderful chance to showcase our culture and our traditions. In addition, we are extremely proud to greet those traveling by water, which recalls the days when our ancestors welcomed the first Europeans to our lands,” said Innu chief Georges-Ernest Grégoire.

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