The M/V Federal Polaris, a Bahamas registered vessel, sailing from Vila do conde, Brazil, was the first ship to arrive in Sept-Îles this year, at 04:55 hours on January 3rd, 2008. The vessel arrived with 26 000 metric tons of Alumina for Aluminerie Alouette and will set sail again on January 6th, 2008, destined for Vila do Conde, Brazil.
During a short ceremony on board the vessel, Sept-Îles Port Authority President & CEO, Mr. Pierre D. Gagnon, presented Captain Reynaldo P. Derige with the prestigious Gold Headed Cane bearing the Port of Sept-Îles insignia.
Several gifts were presented to the Captain by the Mayor of Sept-Îles, Mr. Ghislain Lévesque, as well as representatives of Aluminerie Alouette, Mr. Patick Coulombe and Mr. Tom Inglis.
This tradition, now in its 21st year, marks the arrival of the first ship of the year to call the Port. To be eligible, the vessel must come directly from a foreign Port and be bound for a destination outside the country without making any other calls at a Canadian Port.
The Port of Sept-Îles is a major player in the local economy and one of the pillars of its economic development. Its economic impact has been estimated to account for almost 4,000 direct and indirect jobs and $1 billion in annual economic activity.