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SEPT-ÎLES, January 18, 2016 – The volume of cargo handled by the Port of Sept-Îles in 2015 dropped 4.6% to 22.7 million metric tons, compared to 23.8 million tons in the previous year. The slight decrease, due mainly to the closure of Cliffs Natural Resources in Pointe-Noire, was almost completely offset by the increase in shipments by Rio Tinto IOC, which rose by 24% to 17.8 million tons, and those of Tata Steel Minerals Canada, at 2.3 million tons. Tata Steel is now a major shipper, accounting for 10% of the port’s annual volume.

YEAR IN REVIEW

2015 was marked by the arrival in February of two gigantic shiploaders at the multi-user dock. They captured the attention of the entire maritime community when they were featured on Discovery Channel’s Mighty Ships show. Installation of the shiploaders was completed in late October and the multi-user dock is now ready to receive its first ore carrier as soon as dock users get connected.

Another important event was the opening in August of the Hermel exhibition site in the Port’s Marina building. The Hermel’s new home was renovated to create a space for showcasing this remarkable transatlantic watercraft. More than 4,000 people visited the exhibit during the summer.

The Port was active in the community throughout the year, contributing to nearly 60 of the region’s organizations under its donations and funding policy. Support included major sponsorship for Vieux-Quai en Fête, funding for the 5 à Huîtres Maritime event on behalf of the Élyme des sables palliative care centre, and the donation of 100 turkeys to the Grande guignolée des médias food drive. These are only a few examples of the financial engagement of the Port of Sept-Îles and the involvement of its entire team in organizing and supporting these important events.

“The delivery this year of a world class facility such as the multi-user dock occurred at a time when such assets can make all the difference in a bearish iron market. The use of larger vessels such as the Chinamax ships can reduce transportation costs by 30% to 40% and enable shippers to remain competitive in an oversupplied global market,” explained Pierre D. Gagnon, president and CEO of the Port of Sept-Îles.

ABOUT THE PORT OF SEPT-ÎLES

Boasting diverse, state-of-the-art facilities, the Port of Sept-Îles is one of North America’s biggest ore-handling ports, with an annual volume of close to 25 million tons. The port facilities at Sept-Îles play a vital and strategic role in the economy of Eastern Canada. Annual economic impacts are estimated at nearly $1 billion and almost 4,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Source:

Patsy Keays
Director, Corporate Affairs
Port of Sept-Îles
418 961-1235

Sailing under Netherlands flag, the M/V SPAARNEGRACHT, was the first ship of the year to call Sept-Îles, arriving from Savannah, USA, at 9:47 a.m. on Sunday, January 3, 2016. The vessel arrived in ballast and will set sail today at noon, for Baltimore, USA, laden with a cargo of 10,000 tons of aluminum from Aluminerie Alouette.

The prestigious Cane bearing the Port of Sept-Îles’ insignia was presented yesterday afternoon at the La Relance terminal to Captain Hajo Y. van Losenoord, by Mr. Raynald Ouellet, Vice-president, Operations and Business Development of the Port of Sept-Îles, while accompanied by Mr. Jean-Pierre Castilloux of Aluminerie Alouette and representatives of Logistec Stevedoring and the vessel’s owners Spliethoff.

This tradition, now in its 29th year, marks the beginning of a new year of port activities, with a special ceremony for 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.

ABOUT THE PRESTIGIOUS CANE

Since its transformation in 2012 with a renewed design, the new edition showcases the region’s industrial pillars that do business via the port infrastructures. Indeed, taking its inspiration from a 3D version of the Port of Sept-Îles’ logo, the new cane now includes aluminum in its composition and highlights an iron ore rock whose brilliance is reflected in a half sphere of acrylic.

The notion 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, were replicated in 10-carat gold to adorn the cane band, making it an exclusive and sought-after item for the maritime industry.

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. 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.

Source:
Patsy Keays
Director, Corporate Affairs
Port of Sept-Îles
418 961-1235

SEPT-ÎLES, December 3, 2015 – The Port of Sept-Îles is delighted to do its part for the Guignolée des médias with a very special donation to the Comptoir alimentaire de Sept-Îles food bank: one hundred Christmas turkeys to be distributed among the community’s neediest people.

The Port of Sept-Îles team will also play a hands-on role throughout the day, collecting donations of non-perishable foods at four locations throughout the City of Sept-Îles. The Port will also provide free coffee and donuts to volunteers at the collection points.

“We all understand that when the regional economy slows down, a lot of local residents are directly impacted. That’s why the Port of Sept-Îles decided to get on board to support this worthy cause in a spirit of sharing, generosity, and solidarity with those in need,” said Pierre D. Gagnon and Avit Ouellet, the Port’s CEO and Board Chair.

The Port of Sept-Îles also wishes to extend thanks to Arlain Labrie of IGA and Jacques Francoeur of the Comptoir alimentaire de Sept-Îles for working closely with us to help us make this special donation as part of the 2015 Guignolée des médias.

 

ABOUT THE PORT OF SEPT-ÎLES

Boasting diverse, state-of-the-art facilities, the Port of Sept-Îles is one of the largest ore-handling ports in North America with an annual volume of close to 24 million tons. The port’s infrastructure plays a vital and strategic role in the economy of Eastern Canada, with nearly 4,000 direct and indirect jobs and annual economic impact estimated at nearly $1 billion.

 

Source:
Patsy Keays
Director, Corporate Affairs
Port of Sept-Îles
418 961-1235

SEPT-ÎLES, October 16, 2015 – The Port of Sept-Îles is very pleased with the opening of the new Société du Plan Nord regional office by Pierre Arcand, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Plan Nord. With this new office, located at 818 Laure Boulevard, Sept-Îles joins Roberval, Baie-Comeau and Chibougamau as strategic outposts for Société du Plan Nord. The Sept-Îles office will employ the largest staff.

“By opening this regional office and hiring four resource people with excellent first-hand knowledge of the region, we feel the corporation is taking a strong step toward harnessing the opportunities available in our vast region in deploying the Plan Nord. The Port of Sept-Îles is a strategic port, and its new multi-user dock is the highest-capacity ore-handling facility in North America. There’s no question that having a Société du Plan Nord office here will deliver tangible benefits and be a boon for business,” said Port of Sept-Îles President and CEO Pierre D. Gagnon.

“This ambitious development plan, which hinges on community consultation and cooperation, is exactly what we need right now. The current economic slowdown and flagging iron ore market are being felt in our communities and the entire region. The Plan Nord will help power economic recovery by creating new employment opportunities and securing existing jobs in the region. The government’s willingness to work with regional actors, aboriginal communities, and the private sector is the linchpin of this innovative Plan, which can meet the real needs of our region,” noted Avit Ouellet, Chair of the Sept-Îles Port Authority Board of Directors.

ABOUT THE PORT OF SEPT-ÎLES

Boasting diverse, state-of-the-art facilities, the Port of Sept-Îles is North America’s largest ore-handling port with an annual volume of close to 28 million tons. The port infrastructure at Sept-Îles plays a vital and strategic role in the economy of Eastern Canada. Annual economic impacts are estimated at nearly $1 billion and nearly 4,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Source:
Patsy Keays
Director, Corporate Affairs
Port of Sept-Îles
418 961-1235

MONTREAL, Que. — On the surface, the concept of a port seems simple; a ship comes in, unloads its cargo, perhaps takes on new cargo and then heads back out to sea.

But in this digital and technological age, ports in Canada play a much larger, more significant role. Beyond moving around cargo, ports are the heart of data management and provide expertise in logistical efficiency. Today’s ports are not what we think they are. They truly are pushing limits, which is the theme for this year’s Association of Canadian Port Authorities (ACPA) annual conference, to be hosted by the Port of Montreal next week.

“Canada’s modern ports are about so much more than just moving goods,” says Wendy Zatylny, President of ACPA. “At heart, we are innovators, economic drivers, job creators, business developers and community builders.”

Canadian Port Authorities handle more than 60 per cent of Canada’s waterborne cargo, worth more than $400 billion annually. This activity supports 250,000 well-paying direct and indirect jobs. For every million tonnes of new cargo moved through these ports, 300 new jobs are created.

Staged over two-and-a-half days, the ACPA Conference 2015 will examine the port industry, with in-depth panel discussions on a variety of topics, including:

• The forces driving tomorrow’s logistics landscape;
• Adding value to Canada’s ports;
• The energy challenge;
• Innovation in the maritime industry;
• Expanding maritime trade; and
• The importance of social media.

Speakers slated to make presentations to delegates include Georgia Tech professor Benoit Montreuil, Port Ambassador Frank Geerkens from the Port of Antwerp, Danielle Goldfarb from the Conference Board of Canada and Michel Juneau-Katsuya, a security and intelligence specialist.

“With our own extensive network of infrastructure, the Port of Montreal is a great example of ports driving economic development and spurring investment and job creation,” says Sylvie Vachon, President and CEO of the Port of Montreal and host of the ACPA 2015 Conference. “We move goods, yes, but we also provide employment lands, railway lines, jobs, log information and facilitate the efficient movement of products and services – all of which supports Canadian families and our way of life.”

The conference will wrap up Thursday morning with a private tour of the Port of Montreal.

The conference also includes a trade show to provide marine industry exhibitors with a unique opportunity to showcase their services and network with the delegates and executives of the ACPA membership. Accredited media are welcome to attend the Business Sessions, but must register on the website under the press-pass option.

Follow the Association of Canadian Port Authorities Annual Conference on Twitter @MTLACPA2015. For more information, please visit acpa2015.ca.

 

About the Association of Canadian Port Authorities:

The Association of Canadian Port Authorities was founded in 1958 and groups together ports and related marine interests into one national association. ACPA represents all Canadian Port Authorities, various government entities and companies doing business in the marine sector. It is the leading Association for the advocacy and advancement of the Canadian Port Industry. ACPA members contribute significantly to the local, regional and national economy of Canada, responsible for more than 250,000 direct and indirect jobs and handling more than $400 billion worth of goods annually.

For more information, please call

Kalvin Reid, Consultant
ENsight Canada
Mobile: 289.241.7936
kreid@enterprisecanada.com
acpa-ports.net

SEPT-ÎLES, August 14, 2015 – The Port of Sept-Îles, in partnership with Destination Sept-Îles Nakauinanu, officially opened the Hermel exhibition site today in the Port of Sept-Îles Marina building.

As part of the strategy promoting Sept-Îles as an international cruise destination, the Port and Destination Sept-Îles Nakauinanu wanted to make the Hermel accessible to cruise passengers as well as tourists and locals. To do so, they renovated the Marina building to refurbish existing facilities and create a space dedicated to this remarkable transatlantic watercraft. An interactive console sits next to the Hermel, allowing visitors to learn about the famous rowboat and its 129-day voyage across the Atlantic.

In addition to being the new home port for Mylène Paquette’s legendary boat, the Marina building now houses a Tourisme Sept-Îles kiosk and an interpretive display about the Bay of Sept-Îles itself. Until Labour Day, Tourisme Sept-Îles staff will be on-site to bring the exhibits to life and answer visitor questions. The exhibition is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Once summer is over, school and group visits to the Hermel will be available upon request.

“Thanks to our generous partners, the Hermel exhibition is now a part of the Port of Sept-Îles. We’re grateful to Destination Sept-Îles Nakauinanu, and to Tourisme Sept-Îles and the Club nautique de Sept-Îles, who helped make it possible to bring the Hermel to her new home port in our marina,” said Pierre D. Gagnon, the Port’s President & CEO.

“The Hermel is a symbol of the maritime community. She travelled the same route as most ore tankers that pass through our port and her courageous captain is a force of nature. This little yellow boat will be a major attraction for locals, school groups, visitors, tourists and cruise passengers,” added Manon Langlois, chair of the Destination Sept-Îles Nakauinanu board.

In April 2014 the Port of Sept-Îles won the bid to acquire this symbol of courage, determination, and achievement that embodies the Port’s values and will now be displayed there permanently.

THE MS MARCO POLO ARRIVES

The MS Parco Polo and her 1,371 passengers and crew are expected to dock in Sept-Îles this Sunday. This will be the graceful cruise ship’s first-ever visit to the region. Festivities, entertainment, and tastings of local delicacies will be featured in the port’s new cruise terminal. Everyone is invited to join in this event to kick off the cruise ship season. The ship leaves port on Monday at 7:30 p.m.

ABOUT THE PORT OF SEPT-ÎLES

Boasting diverse, state-of-the-art facilities, the Port of Sept-Îles is one of the largest ore-handling ports in North America. The port’s infrastructure plays a vital and strategic role in the economy of Eastern Canada, with annual economic impact estimated at nearly $1 billion and nearly 4,000 direct and indirect jobs.

 

Source :

Patsy Keays
Director, Corporate Affairs
Port de Sept-Îles
418-961-1235

Mario Sévigny
Executive Director
Destination Sept-Îles Nakauinanu
418-968-1231, ext. 234

For immediate release

SEPT-ÎLES, July 22, 2015 – The Port of Sept-Îles will respond to a motion to institute proceedings filed by Pomerleau Inc. at the Superior Court of Québec in the District of Mingan to claim additional costs, losses, and damages under the terms of its contract for the engineering and construction of the multi-user dock

The Port of Sept-Îles plans to analyze the motion with its attorneys. However, the Port decided last fall that it would vigorously contest the claim by Pomerleau Inc. for additional sums above and beyond the contract price. These sums represent additional costs that the contractor claims to have incurred, but that in fact were the result of operational issues and a lack of foresight for which the contractor is entirely responsible.

The Port has therefore asked its attorneys to determine whether any new information has come to light suggesting that the decision be changed, and if not, to contest the motion and evaluate whether the Port can claim for damages it incurred due to delays throughout the project. As this matter is in the hands of its lawyers, the Port of Sept-Îles will issue no further comment.

 

ABOUT THE PORT OF SEPT-ÎLES

Boasting diverse, state-of-the-art facilities, the Port of Sept-Îles is one of North America’s largest ore-handling port. The port infrastructure at Sept-Îles plays a vital and strategic role in the economy of Eastern Canada. Annual economic impacts are estimated at nearly $1 billion and nearly 4,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Source :

Patsy Keays
Director, Corporate Affairs
Port of Sept-Îles
418 961-1235