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SEPT-ÎLES, January 17, 2012 – The Port of Sept-Îles is pleased to announce today the initial observations from a remarkable year. The port registered growth of close to 4% with a volume of 26 million tons handled, a level not seen at the port since 1981. The port also made national headlines by hosting the annual conference of the Association of Canadian Port Authorities and obtaining North American recognition as the first entirely Green Marine port.

Increased iron ore shipments totaling 22.8 million tons accounted for most of the growth. The Pointe-Noire terminal also boasted an impressive 49% increase in activity, reaching a record 9.4 million tons. Infrastructure expansion was also outstanding, as increases to the capacity of the Relance and Pointe-Noire terminals were delivered spectacularly on budget, on time, and accident free. These projects, announced in 2009, made for record investments totaling $63 million.

In August, the Port of Sept-Îles hosted the Annual Conference of Canadian Port Authorities under the theme, “Ports—Linking Natural Resources to Canada’s Prosperity,” with ministers Denis Lebel and Serge Simard in attendence. Over 200 delegates attended and were entirely won over by the city’s hospitality. Last held in Sept-Îles 20 years ago, the conference generated economic spinoffs estimated at half a million dollars.

In November, the Port of Sept-Îles became the first port in North America to get all its partners—terminals and users—to sign on to the Green Marine environmental program, a voluntary marine industry initiative bringing together over 140 Canadian and American members, including some sixty participants (ship owners, ports, terminals, and shipyards). Getting all the Port’s partners on board with Green Marine is a demonstration of the maritime industry’s willingness to pool its efforts and work together to continue improving on its excellent environmental performance.

In addition, at the end of the year, the Port of Sept-Îles became the third in North America to join the international Green Award program, which seeks to recognize and encourage vessels certified for environmentally sound practices and cutting-edge environmental technology by offering discounts on harbor fees.

“With a projected volume of 34 million tons in 2012,” said Pierre D. Gagnon, Port president and CEO, “we expect to reclaim our position as Canada’s second largest port. A number of challenges await us again this year, as we begin construction of a multi-user berth to meet the growing needs of current and future users. State-of-the-art, high-performance facilities remain a priority for us so our partners can be more competitive and efficient.”

“These remarkable results for 2011 have everything to do with the fruitful partnerships we’ve built with our many customers and users, as well as the federal government,” added Carol Soucy, chair of the board. “We would like to express our gratitude for our partners’ invaluable support throughout the year.”

ABOUT THE GREEN AWARD FOUNDATION
www.greenaward.org

The Green Award Foundation is a neutral, independent organization that has been certifying ocean vessels all over the world since 1994. It is headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The mission of the Green Award is to promote safe and environmentally friendly behavior on the part of ship management and crew by achieving international acceptance, regulation, and coordination of Green Award certification as well as by respecting international conventions and legislation and applying new technical developments.

ABOUT GREEN MARINE
www.green-marine.org

Green Marine’s environmental program targets a number of issues including greenhouse gases, cargo waste management, conflicts of use (noise, dust, odors, and luminous pollution), and environmental leadership. While Green Marine is a voluntary initiative, participants agree to undergo a rigorous external audit to validate and reinforce the credibility of environmental program results. The environmental program is open to all companies operating in the marine industry in Canada or the United States. Green Marine won the prestigious Green Shipping Initiative of the Year at the 2011 International Sustainable Shipping Awards in London and has earned the support of a number of government ministries and environmental groups, including the World Wildlife Fund.

ABOUT THE SEPT-ÎLES PORT AUTHORITY
www.portsi.com

With a full range of high-performance equipment, the Port of Sept-Îles is North America’s leading iron ore port and will now become Canada’s second largest in terms of annual volume handled, with close 34 million tons expected in 2012.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.

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Sept-Îles, January 2nd, 2012 – The M/V Bet Fighter, a Isle of Man registered vessel, sailing from Gibraltar, was the first ship to arrive in Sept-Îles this year, at 7:40 on January 2nd, 2012. The vessel arrived empty and will set sail again January 3rd with 165 000 m.t. of iron ore from the Iron ore Company Rio Tinto destined for China.

During a short ceremony on board the vessel, Manon D’Auteuil, Eng., Director Environment and Sustainable Development of the Port of Sept-Îles, presented Captain Vadym Smelsky with the prestigious Gold Headed Cane bearing the Port of Sept-Îles insignia.

Several gifts were presented to the Captain by Sony Aucoin, Superintendant Operations, representative of the Iron Ore Company Rio Tinto. Jean Masse, councillor of the town of Sept-Iles joined the group to welcome them.

This tradition, now in its 25th 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.

For its 25th anniversary, the gold headed cane has been transformed allowing recipients to receive a more contempory version of this much sought after prize.

Through the choice of its different components and its renewed design, it showcases the region’s industrial pillars that do business via the port infrastructures.

Taking its inspiration from a 3D version of the Port of Sept-Îles logo, the new polished and anodized aluminum cane recalls the blue highway with style. It supports an iron ore rock whose brilliance is reflected in a half sphere of acrylic.

The distinctive component of gold has not been neglected in the new concept. The seven stars of the Port logo which represent the seven islands in the Bay of Sept-Îles have been reproduced in 10 carat gold on the band of the cane. The cane’s shaft which is made of dark rosewood brings warmth and prestige to the creation.

ABOUT THE PORT OF SEPT-ÎLES

With a full range of high-performance equipment, the Port of Sept-Îles is North America’s leading iron ore port in terms of annual volume handled, with nearly 30 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.

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SEPT-ÎLES, November 21, 2011 – Green Marine is pleased to announce that the terminals owned by the Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC), Cliffs Natural Resources–Eastern Canada, Pointe-Noire division, and Esso have joined its environmental program, while Aluminerie Alouette is also becoming a member in the “partner” category.

This makes the Sept-Îles Port Authority (SIPA) the first port in North America with all its partners, including terminals and users, participating in the Green Marine environmental program. Green Marine is a voluntary environmental program for the Canadian and American marine industry with over 140 members, including over 60 participants (ship owners, ports, terminals, and shipyards).

The close working relationships between the various Port users were instrumental in getting all the key players on board for this sustainable development initiative. In embracing Green Marine, these organizations are following the lead of the Sept-Îles Port Authority, Logistec Stevedoring Inc., Porlier Express, Groupe Desgagnés, Ocean Group, and the City of Sept-Îles. Several ship owners active in Sept-Îles, including CSL Group, Cogema, McKeil Marine, and Fednav are also Green Marine members.

The Port of Sept-Îles has a long track record on sustainable development. It worked with the St. Lawrence Economic Development Council (SODES) to draft the environmental policy that led to the creation of Green Marine. “The Port of Sept-Îles has always cared deeply for the environment, and considers the environmental implications at the outset of major developments projects,” said Pierre D. Gagnon, President and CEO of the Sept-Îles Port Authority. “Convincing all Port users to join Green Marine shows that the whole marine industry is on the same page and committed to working together to continue improving and to achieve environmental excellence,” he added.

Green Marine’s executive director David Bolduc notes that applying the environmental program to every sphere of its operations shows the Port is serious about sustainable development. “We congratulate our new members for making this commitment to the environment, and applaud the Port of Sept-Îles for taking the lead and rallying the troops,” he says. “Bringing in new members strengthens Green Marine’s environmental program and allows us to forge ahead with our goal to reduce the marine industry’s environmental footprint.”

About the Port of Sept-Îles
The Port of Sept-Îles is Canada’s leading iron ore port. It is open year-round and blessed with deep waters and a semi-circular bay around 10 km in diameter. With 13 docks, of which it owns 8, the Port handles an annual volume of close to 30 million tons of freight—mainly iron ore, alumina, aluminum, petroleum coke, limestone, and petroleum products. A strategic location at the intersection of major shipping routes between North America, Europe, and Asia, along with convenient year-round access to the St. Lawrence Seaway, have helped make the Port one of Canada’s largest in terms of volume. It also services one of the St. Lawrence’s top industrial hubs with innovative short-sea shipping services such as barge transport for aluminum and a railcar ferry for rail cargo.

About Green Marine
Green Marine’s environmental program targets a number of issues including greenhouse gases, cargo waste management, conflicts of use (noise, dust, odors, and luminous pollution), and environmental leadership. While Green Marine is a voluntary initiative, participants agree to undergo a rigorous external audit to validate and reinforce the credibility of environmental program results. The environmental program is open to all companies operating in the marine industry in Canada or the United States. Green Marine won the prestigious Green Shipping Initiative of the Year at the 2011 Sustainable Shipping Awards in London and has earned the support of a number of government ministries and environmental groups, including the World Wildlife Fund.

IOC
IOC is a leading Canadian producer of iron ore concentrate and iron ore pellets serving customers worldwide. The company operates a mine, concentrator and a pelletizing plant in Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as port facilities located in Sept-Îles. It also operates a 418-kilometer railroad that links the mine to the port. IOC has 2,200 employees and its major shareholder and operator is the international mining group Rio Tinto, which has activities in more than 40 countries throughout the world.

Aluminerie Alouette
Founded in 1992, Aluminerie Alouette is an independent aluminum producer. With 1,000 employees and an annual production of 575,000 tons, it is the number one employer in Sept-Îles and the biggest aluminum smelter in North America. The Sept-Îles plant is the world leader for energy consumption per ton of aluminum produced and a state-of-the-art facility that largely exceeds government environmental standards.

Cliffs–Eastern Canada, Pointe-Noire division
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. is an international mining and natural resources company. The company is a major global iron ore producer and a significant producer of high- and low-volatile metallurgical coal. Cliffs operates iron ore and coal mines in North America and two iron ore mining complexes in Western Australia. The company’s new Eastern Canada division includes three mining complexes—the Scully Division (Wabush, Newfoundland and Labrador), the Bloom division (Fermont, Quebec) and the Pointe-Noire division (Sept-Îles, Quebec)—totaling over 1,000 employees.

Imperial Oil
Imperial Oil is one of Canada’s largest corporations and a leading member of the country’s petroleum industry. The company is a major producer of crude oil and natural gas, Canada’s largest petroleum refiner, a key petrochemical producer, and a leading marketer with a coast-to-coast supply network that includes about 1,850 retail service stations.

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Green Marine Picture

Sept-Îles, August 10, 2011 – The 53rd Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Association of Canadian Port Authorities (ACPA) kicked off on August 8 in the presence of the Honourable Denis Lebel, the federal Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, and Serge Simard, the Quebec Minister for Natural Resources and Wildlife, and Minister responsible for the Saguenay–Lac Saint-Jean and Côte-Nord regions. Over 200 delegates attended the opening ceremony and business sessions, and were won over by the local hospitality.

The ministers spoke on the topic: “Ports – Linking Natural Resources to Canada’s Prosperity,” emphasizing the importance of ports to Canada’s economy and their crucial role in transporting the country’s natural resources. Minister Simard remarked that ports are especially important in Quebec, notably in the Côte-Nord region, which is experiencing an incomparable economic boom. He went on to say that Sept-Îles was the right venue for this event, considering the investments estimated at more than $80 billion that will be generated by Plan Nord over the next 25 years.

The Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Sauvé, a guest speaker at the event, discussed details of Plan Nord and its importance to the region and to Canada. He highlighted the significant opportunities and benefits that Plan Nord represents for the future of the maritime industry in Quebec and Canada.

This conference, last held in Sept-Îles 20 years ago, generated economic benefits estimated at more than a half million dollars. Significant support from the Sept-Îles community, notably performances by the Tam Ti Delam folk dance troupe and the Zoot Band, greatly impressed visitors from other Canadian ports. These shows helped highlight the wealth of local talent and the renowned hospitality of the Sept-Îles community.

“The success of this event is due largely to the excellent cooperation between the various partners and collaborators associated with hosting the event, including Carrefour La Baie and the City of Sept-Îles,” said Pierre D. Gagnon, President and CEO of the Port of Sept-Îles in his remarks at the closing session of the conference, which will return to Sept-Îles in 20 years.

ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION OF CANADIAN PORT AUTHORITIES

The Association of Canadian Port Authorities was founded in 1958 and brings together ports, harbours, and related marine interests into a single national association. The ACPA represents all Canada Port Authorities, various government entities, and companies doing business in the marine sector. The ACPA is the preeminent association for the advocacy and advancement of the Canadian port industry. Each year, Canada’s 17 port authorities handle over $160 billion worth of goods.

ABOUT SEPT-ÎLES PORT AUTHORITY

With a full range of high-performance equipment, the Port of Sept-Îles is North America’s leading iron ore port and will now become Canada’s second largest in terms of 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.

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SEPT-ÎLES, June 22, 2011 – As part of the Association of Canadian Port Authorities’ 53rd Annual General Meeting and Conference in Sept-Îles August 6 to 10, 2011, the Port of Sept-Îles and the Association are pleased to announce the attendance of two ministers at the conference opening. They are federal Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency for the Regions of Quebec, the Honorable Denis Lebel, and Quebec Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife and Minister responsible for the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region and the Côte-Nord region, Mr. Serge Simard, who on behalf of both governments, will welcome delegates from the four corners of the country.

“It is with much pride that the Sept-Îles Port Authority will be holding this important event which took place here 20 years ago. With the theme “Ports – Linking Natural Resources to Canada’s Prosperity”, we are expecting some 200 guests”, said Mr. Pierre D. Gagnon, President and CEO of the Port of Sept-Îles.

Next August, Canadian port community representatives will be able to witness how important iron and aluminum are to the economic vitality of the Port of Sept-Îles and the entire region. “Right now, we are experiencing an incomparable economic boom. The vibrancy of the Port of Sept-Îles, the close support of the regional economic community, and the contribution of all our business partners have largely been the key to this success. We will therefore be proud to share the growth our region has experienced with the entire Canadian port community,” added Mr. Gagnon.

The event will last four days and will be one of the largest conferences to be held in Sept-Îles in recent years—more than 200 participants from all regions of Canada are expected, in addition to several hundred thousand dollars in economic spinoffs. The annual event is held in a different Canadian port city each year and is a forum for representatives from the Canadian port sector to discuss and develop ideas on topics crucial to the industry, in particular trade corridors such as the St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes, as well as issues surrounding the environment, competitiveness, and trends in cargo transport in the continental and international marine market.

ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION OF CANADIAN PORT AUTHORITIES

The Association of Canadian Port Authorities was founded in 1958 and brings together ports, harbors, and related marine interests into a single national association. The ACPA represents all Canada Port Authorities, various government entities, and companies doing business in the marine sector. The ACPA is the preeminent association for the advocacy and advancement of the Canadian port industry. Each year, Canada’s 17 port authorities handle over $160 billion worth of goods.

ABOUT SEPT-ÎLES PORT AUTHORITY

With a full range of high-performance equipment, the Port of Sept-Îles is North America’s leading iron ore port and will now become Canada’s second largest in terms of annual volume handled, with over 35 million tons. Sept-Îles’s 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.

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SEPT-ÎLES, January 17, 2011 – The Port of Sept-Îles is pleased to announce today the initial observations from an exceptional year in its history. In addition to registering the highest business volume in thirty years with 25.1 million tons handled, compared to 19.8 million tons in 2009, the Sept-Îles Port Authority posted a record year with nearly $70 million invested in Port development.

The strong recovery of iron ore in 2010—with growth of 29%—pushed tonnage past the 25 million mark, a feat last achieved in 1981. Arrival of the new producer Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines and its shipments to Asia starting in July led to a 76% increase in volume at the Pointe-Noire terminal with 2.4 million tons handled.

The railcar ferry between Sept-Îles and Matane handled nearly 100,000 metric tons, an astounding 85% increase for La Relance terminal. This included almost 58,000 metric tons of aluminum travelling on the Blue Highway, up 42% from last year. It is worth noting that the railcar ferry service translated into an average of one fewer truck per hour on Route 138 over the entire year.

Investments in 2010 attained a level unparalleled since the Port’s inception. More than a quarter billion dollars of private funds and Port monies was invested in Port properties. At the peak of the season, the Port boasted more than 700 workers and five construction sites, including Pointe-Noire and La Relance terminals, the Consolidated Thompson project, and the cruise ship dock.

The past year was also marked by the opening of the cruise ship dock on October 4. Sept-Îles residents were invited to celebrate the arrival of the first ship at the new dock, a simply spectacular event. Over one thousand people came out to take part in festivities marking the departure of the Norwegian Spirit. Three ships dropped anchor in the Bay of Sept-Îles in 2010. More than 7,500 passengers and crew members took advantage of the unique appeal of Sept-Îles and its many services, with an average disembarkation rate of over 80%.

The Port of Sept-Îles also received two highly prestigious prizes in 2010, including the St. Lawrence Award from SODES (Société de développement économique du Saint-Laurent), given annually to recognize exceptional results and projects that have contributed to the economic development or enhancement of the St. Lawrence River. The second was the Transportation Excellence Award from AQTR (Association québécoise du transport et des routes), received jointly with CN for its railcar ferry service.

“Everything is in place for the Port of Sept-Îles to reclaim its position as the second largest Canadian port in 2011. A number of challenges await us again this year. Construction of a deepwater multi-user dock is expected to begin this year to meet the growing needs of our current and future users. We must provide high quality facilities for our partners so they can be more competitive in today’s market, and we will take the appropriate steps to reach our goals,” said president and CEO Pierre D. Gagnon.

“In the last year, both levels of government have supported future development of the Port of Sept-Îles by contributing to a number of key projects for our industries through the federal government’s Economic Stimulus Fund and Community Diversification Program (International Cruise Ports of Call component) as well as Québec’s Programme d’aide à la stratégie des croisières,” added Carol Soucy, chair of the board. “We have also benefited from an outstanding partnership with our users that led to the completion of these projects. On behalf of the entire Port of Sept-Îles team, I’d like to thank them for their support, which reflects their confidence in our flourishing region.”

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 this year will become Canada’s second largest, with an anticipated annual volume of over 32 million tons. Sept-Îles’ port facilities play a vital and strategic role in the operations of a number of businesses active in 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.

The Port of Sept-Îles will also host some 200 delegates at the 53rd Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Association of Canadian Port Authorities from August 7 to 10, 2011. Port activity at the Port of Sept-Îles therefore remains a significant source of economic and social wealth for the region, for Quebec, and for Canada.

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SEPT-ÎLES, January 7, 2011 – The Port of Sept-Îles is pleased to announce that the M/V E. R. Bergamo was the first ship of 2011 to enter the Port of Sept-Îles at around 2 p.m. on January 3. Given heavy traffic at La Relance terminal, the ship was unable to dock until today to deliver its 44,101 metric ton shipment of alumina to Aluminerie Alouette. Flying a Liberian flag, the ship arrived from Vila Do Conde in Brazil. Once unloaded, she will set sail for New Orleans, USA, around January 11.

In keeping with the 24 year old tradition, a brief onboard ceremony will be held early next week at which the ship’s captain, Roman L. Cuaresma, will be awarded the prestigious gold-headed cane bearing the Port of Sept-Îles insignia by Pierre D. Gagnon, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Sept-Îles, accompanied by representatives from Aluminerie Alouette and Lower St. Lawrence Ocean Agencies.

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 this year will become Canada’s second largest in terms of expected annual volume handled, with over 32 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.

The Port of Sept-Îles will also host some 200 delegates at the 53rd Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Association of Canadian Port Authorities August 7–10, 2011. Port activity at the Port of Sept-Îles therefore represents a significant source of economic and social wealth creation for the region, Quebec, and Canada.

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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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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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