Category: Press releases

Sept-Îles, August 26, 2013 – Cégep de Sept-Îles, the City of Sept-Îles, Corporation de protection de l’environnement de Sept-Îles, Développement économique Sept-Îles, and the Port of Sept-Îles this morning announced the creation of an environmental observatory for the Bay of Sept-Îles that will be headed by Institut nordique de recherche en environnement et en santé au travail (INREST).

“I’m pleased with the creation of this observatory, which testifies to the determination of the partners involved to work together on environmental and sustainable development issues. This initiative will give the community a comprehensive overview of the bay,” said Sept-Îles mayor Serge Lévesque.

In addition to providing an environmental overview, this project seeks to:

• Update and consolidate data and metrics on the bay’s environment;
• Produce an annual monitoring report drawing on data processed by INREST;
• Predict the bay’s capacity to accommodate acceptable projects that are safe for people and the environment;
• Help existing businesses improve their environmental performance, as warranted;
• Measure the results of conservation and environmental improvement efforts in the Bay of Sept-Îles.

“To our knowledge, this integrated and ongoing research approach for an ecosystem of this kind is a first in Quebec, and possibly in Canada as a whole. It helps position us as a pioneer in the environment and sustainable development matters,” asserted Donald Bherer, executive director of Cégep de Sept-Îles.

After several months of preparation, the stakeholders agreed on a process whose startup phase will be as follows:

1. Inventory and analysis of existing data (literature review)
2. Water quality and sediment sampling
3. Production and dissemination of a final report

“The current data is insufficient for developing a long-term, overall monitoring strategy, so this startup phase will enable INREST and its partners to better structure subsequent phases planned for 2014 and 2015,” said Dr. Julie Carrière, Eng., researcher and director of the new research institute.

This important project will enhance understanding of current and future environmental impacts thanks to the acquisition of credible and updated baseline data. In addition, it will support stakeholders in their decision making and environmental management while responding to public expectations and concerns.

“The new observatory integrates the objectives pursued by Green Marine. It will help protect our valuable marine ecosystems and ensure responsible planning based on sustainable development values. This innovative initiative reflects the environmental leadership of the Port and its partners,” said Pierre D. Gagnon, president and CEO of the Port of Sept-Îles.

It will cost close to $384,250 to get the first phase off the ground. Développement économique Sept-Îles will contribute $50,000, the Port of Sept-Îles $209,600, and Corporation de protection de l’environnement $124,650. “I would like to thank the City of Sept-Îles for providing the financial support we need to carry out this project, which has been several years in the making. It’s an environmental initiative that is key to the development of our community,” said Corporation executive director Stéphanie Prévost.

Work will begin soon, and the final report for the first phase is slated for fall 2014. Phase 2 of the project, planned for next year, is expected to include research on the benthic community, eelgrass, fish, phytoplankton, macroalgae, and physical and climate data, among other aspects.

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Project Highlights

SEPT-ÎLES, July 9, 2013 – Being now at mid-project schedule, the Port of Sept-Îles wishes to produce a progress review on Canada’s largest marine construction site.

With over 95% of project costs now known and incurred, the Port wants to declare its satisfaction with the favorable pricing that was obtained and will allow to deliver the project on budget ($220 million) and on time, with construction scheduled to wrap up in late March 2014.

The Port is also pleased that work is back in full swing after a provincial construction strike caused an eight-day work stoppage.

The Port would like to stress the considerable local spinoffs the project is currently generating:

• 80 to 90% of the 130 workers currently at the site are local.
• Over $20 million in services and equipment are provided by the following main local suppliers: Construction de lignes électriques N.G.E., Westburne, Nedco, Équipements Nordiques, Construction Tshiuetin, AXOR, and Bouchard & Blanchette Marine.

“We’re also very happy with the proactive support and cooperation of the teams from Pomerleau and Sandvik Canada, which have worked closely with our team to complete construction of the country’s biggest bulk port terminal,” said Port president and CEO Pierre D. Gagnon.

ABOUT THE PORT OF SEPT-ÎLES

Boasting a variety of state-of-the-art facilities, the Port of Sept-Îles is the leading iron ore port in North America, with an annual volume of nearly 30 million tons. Sept-Îles’ port facilities play a vital and strategic role in the operation of many 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. Through its activity, the Port of Sept-Îles therefore remains a significant source of wealth creation in Quebec and the rest of Canada.

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OTTAWA – Port Sept-Iles received a Special Award for Support to the Reserve Force in a ceremony Friday at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. The Canadian Forces Liaison Council (CFLC) presented the award to Port President, Mr. Pierre Gagnon at the Council’s Tenth Biennial National Employer Support Awards. The awards are held to recognize and honour government business and educational institutions for their support of the Primary Reserve Force.

Lieutenant Commander Francois Levesque, Commanding Officer of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) JOILLET, the Naval Reserve Division, in Sept-Iles Quebec, nominated Port Sept-Iles to receive the award. “Mr. Pierre Gagnon, President and Director General of Port Sept-Iles, is a fervent promoter of HMCS Jolliet and the Naval Reserve in Sept-Iles. Our two organizations have shown exemplary collaboration in the region,” said Levesque, who praised Port Sept-Iles, which has helped promote the unit in the local area. “The Post has even referred employees of Port Sept-Iles to HMCS Jolliet for enrollment in the Naval Reserves.” Lévesque served 10 years in the Army Reserve as Logistic Officer and other various positions before transferring to the Regular Force as a Naval Officer in 2001. He is currently enrolled with Université du Québec through distance learning to complete his Business degree.

Similar awards were presented to 19 organizations from across Canada, including business and academic institutions, recognized for their outstanding support to Canadian Armed Forces Reserve members. Vice-Admiral Bruce Donaldson, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, and many other senior military and government officials were among the more than 150 nominators, recipients, and guests attendance. Retired veteran journalist, Mr. Don Newman served as master of ceremonies for the event, which was held amidst the historic military artifacts of the Canadian War Museum’s LeBreton Gallery.

The CFLC is a group of civilian business leaders and educators who volunteer their time and effort to promote the primary Reserve Force – Canada’s part-time military – by highlighting the benefits of Reserve Force training and experience to the civilian workplace.

The mandate of the CFLC is to enhance the availability of Reservists for military duty by obtaining the support and co-operation of organization leaders in Canada. The CFLC’s vision is that all organization leaders in Canada actively support Reservists.

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SEPT-ÎLES, January 21, 2013 – The Port of Sept-Îles is proud to announce a 7.5% increase in volume handled over the previous year, reaching 28 million tons. This increase is primarily due to the growing volume of iron ore handled and especially to the expanding volume of Labrador Iron Mines, which accounts for more than 80% of the growth.

In a historical and unprecedented move, the federal government kicked off the year 2012 by announcing $55 million in funding for the Port, covering a quarter of the new multi-user dock’s $220 million price tag.

In the wake of this major announcement, five more partners joined in and agreed to finance half of the project. These partners are Alderon Iron Ore Corp., Champion Iron Mines Limited, Labrador Iron Mines Holdings Limited, New Millennium Iron Corp., and Tata Steel Minerals Canada Limited.

We should also mention that the very first maritime week took place September 27 to October 4 thanks to the cooperation of many partners, such as Ville de Sept-Îles, NCSM Jolliet, and Destination Sept-Îles Nakauinanu. The event was a tremendous success, with over 2,000 people participating in the various activities.

We would also like to point out the Port’s major contribution to the community throughout the year. Fondation du Centre hospitalier de Sept-Îles received a record $250,000 in donations from the Port of Sept-Îles for the automation and consolidation of CSSS de Sept-Îles’s laboratory. The Port’s “5 à huîtres maritime” fundraiser for the Élyme des sables palliative care centre, which brought in a record-setting $115,000 last October, is also worthy of mention. In total, the Port contributed over half a million dollars to the community, considering all the causes and organizations it supported last year.

ABOUT THE PORT OF SEPT-ÎLES

Boasting a variety of state-of-the-art facilities, the Port of Sept-Îles is the leading iron ore port in North America, with an annual volume of nearly 30 million tons. Sept-Îles’ port facilities play a vital and strategic role in the operation of many 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 12, 2013 – The M/V ETERNUS, an Isle of Man registered vessel, sailing from Falmouth, United Kingdom, was the first ship to arrive in Sept-Îles this year, at 5:20 a.m. on January 4, 2013. The vessel arrived empty and finally docked on January 11 at Rio Tinto IOC dock Nº 2. It will set sail again with 162,721 metric tons of iron ore destined for Dunkirk, France.

Mr. Pierre D. Gagnon, president & CEO of the Port of Sept-Îles, presented Captain Miroslaw Kaczmarczyk with the prestigious cane bearing the Port of Sept-Îles insignia.

Several gifts were presented to the Captain by Ms. Lorraine Dubuc-Johnson, pro-mayor of the City of Sept-Îles, as well as by representatives of Rio Tinto IOC.

This tradition, now in its 26th 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.

In 2012, the prestigious cane was transformed in order to showcase the materials that form the basis of the Port operations, iron and aluminum. The more contemporary version of the cane is a reflection of the Port logo, with its stylised polished aluminum head supporting an iron ore rock whose brilliance is reflected in a half sphere of acrylic. The seven stars of the Port logo which represent the seven islands in the Bay of Sept-Îles have been reproduced in gold on the band of the cane. The head of the cane is mounted on a dark rosewood shaft that brings warmth and prestige to the creation.

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 in terms of annual volume handled with close to 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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Information Sheet – M/V Eternus

First Ships of the Year

SEPT-ÎLES, October 29, 2012 – With the third edition of the “5 à huîtres maritime” event complete, the organizing committee is proud to announce that the final amount collected was $115,000. This impressive figure was made possible thanks to surprise offerings from three major companies in the process of setting up shop in the region—McKeil Marine and Arrimage Québec donated $7,000 each, and CN made a $15,000 contribution.

Chef Ian Perreault was this year’s special guest. In addition to helping Club Richelieu volunteers concoct special recipes for the activity, Mr. Perreault and his wife Mélanie amazed over three hundred guests with their culinary skills and original oyster recipes.

Thank you and congratulations to the many volunteers who did an amazing job setting up and tearing down the activity.

Third edition of the “5 à huîtres maritime”

This was the third edition of this charity event organized by the Port of Sept-Îles in collaboration with Club Richelieu, the HMCS Jolliet (Naval Reserve) and Élyme des sables to collect as much money as possible to help support the ongoing operation of the Sept-Îles palliative care centre. Last year, over $84,500 were raised.

Participants had two options to choose from. The Rockefeller version at $500 per person consisted of a tasting of gourmet oyster dishes, while the Malpèque version at $100 per person was for raw oyster lovers looking for a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. The fresh oyster tasting was accompanied by a buffet dinner. The evening also featured entertainment, free drinks, contests, music, and door prizes.

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SEPT-ÎLES, October 18, 2012 – With only one week to go before the third edition of the “5 à huîtres maritime” event, the organizing committee has already confirmed the presence of two hundred guests. Tickets are only on sale for one more week, and the committee is eagerly awaiting the final participants who will make the evening a success. Chef Ian Perreault will be the special guest this year. In addition to helping Club Richelieu volunteers concoct special recipes for the activity, Mr. Perreault will be demonstrating his culinary talents during the evening.

A shuttle service will be available between the parking lot of the old Canadian Tire (corner of Maltais and Arnaud) and the Naval Reserve at 366 Arnaud Avenue.

Third edition of the “5 à huîtres maritime”

This charity event organized by the Port of Sept-Îles in collaboration with Club Richelieu, the HMCS Jolliet (Naval Reserve) and the Élyme des sables palliative care centre, is now in its third edition. It features an original concept designed to collect as much money as possible to help support the ongoing operation of the Sept-Îles palliative care centre. Last year, over $84,500 were raised.

Participants have two options to choose from. The Rockefeller version at $500 per person consists of a tasting of gourmet oyster dishes, while the Malpèque version at $100 per person is for raw oyster lovers looking for a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. The fresh oyster tasting is accompanied by a buffet dinner. The evening will also feature entertainment, free drinks, contests, music, and door prizes.

Tickets are on sale at the Port of Sept-Îles (418 968-1231) and will be available at the Naval Reserve entrance starting at 5 p.m. on the day of the activity.

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Sept-Îles, September 26, 2012 — To mark the 50th anniversary of the Centre de santé et de services sociaux de Sept-Îles (CSSS) and the 2012 fundraising campaign of Fondation régionale Hôpital Sept-Îles, the Port of Sept-Îles is proud to announce the biggest monetary donation ever given to the Foundation, namely a quarter of million dollars.

The objective of this exceptional donation is to help the CSSS in its constant effort to improve services to the regional community and to offer tangible support by providing the necessary funds to consolidate and automate the CSSS laboratory. This sizeable community investment by the Port stems from its new policy on donations and contributions to the community. From now on, all of the Port of Sept-Îles’ major infrastructure projects will set aside funds for community initiatives that generate a maximum of impacts and spinoffs for Sept-Îles residents. In fact, it was the $220 million multi-user dock project that enabled the Port to make this major initial donation.

“We are very pleased to make this first big donation to the community in honor of the CSSS’s 50th anniversary and are delighted with the spinoffs and impact of this investment, which will increase the range and processing speed of tests for all hospital patients,” said Port of Sept-Îles president and CEO Pierre D. Gagnon and chairman Carol Soucy.

According to Martin Beaumont, executive director of CSSS de Sept-Îles, “The Port of Sept-Îles board just raised the bar! This is a remarkable example of community involvement that will affect thousands of Côte-Nord patients, as our laboratory carries out nearly 800,000 analyses a year. This donation will undoubtedly give an excellent return on investment, particularly by improving the quality of and access to care.”

This is the biggest corporate donation the Foundation has ever received and to highlight this fact, the CSSS’s testing centre has been named after the Port of Sept-Îles, and the Foundation has created a Diamond category for contributions of $250,000 and over.

Purchasing specialized analytical equipment for the laboratory will enable it to develop new tests, including breast and ovarian cancer screening. This is a wise investment that will enhance regional expertise and boost the diagnostic service’s productivity by reducing wait times. One of the CSSS’s strategic goals is to develop and maintain an array of equipment and IT to support their services. Fondation régionale Hôpital Sept-Îles has once again helped the CSSS take steps toward reaching this objective.

The Port of Sept-Îles and the Foundation is helping CSSS de Sept-Îles achieve its vision of becoming Côte-Nord residents’ best healthcare ally.

ABOUT THE PORT OF SEPT-ÎLES
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 become Canada’s second largest in terms of annual volume handled, with over 30 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 some4,000 direct and indirect jobs. Port activity at thePort of Sept-Îles therefore remains a significant source of wealth creation in Quebec and the rest of Canada.

ABOUT FONDATION RÉGIONALE HÔPITAL SEPT-ÎLES
www.fondationsept-iles.qc.ca

Fondation régionale Hôpital Sept-Îles’ mission is to raise funds in support of Centre de santé et de services sociaux de Sept-Îles in order to enhance the health and wellbeing of area residents by providing a range of health and social services.

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SEPT-ÎLES, September 13, 2012 – One of Quebec’s great chefs will be joining the “5 à huîtres maritime” event to be held on Thursday, October 25 at the Sept-Îles Naval Reserve to raise funds for the Élyme des sables palliative care centre. Chef Ian Perreault, renowned for his creativity and gourmet talents, will amaze guests with his oyster recipes combining local flavors from the North Shore.

In addition to helping Club Richelieu volunteers concoct special recipes for the activity, Mr. Perreault will be demonstrating his culinary talents during the evening.

A celebrity chef

After trying his hand studying accounting, the desire to surpass himself drove Ian Perreault back to his first passion: cooking. At the age of sixteen, he was already working in a pizzeria and learning to run a kitchen efficiently—a skill he would draw upon frequently throughout his career as a chef and restaurateur. He worked in 18 restaurants before opening his first restaurant, Area, with his partner Denis Lévesque in June 2000. Today, this native Montrealer is one of the city’s most creative and talented chefs, managing Ian Perreault Prêts-à-manger with his wife Mélanie Martin.

Third edition of the “5 à huîtres maritime”

This charity event organized by the Port of Sept-Îles in collaboration with Club Richelieu, the HMCS Jolliet (Naval Reserve) and the Élyme des sables palliative care centre, is now in its third edition. It features an original concept designed to collect as much money as possible to help support the ongoing operation of the Sept-Îles palliative care centre. Last year, over $84,500 were raised.

Participants have two options to choose from. The Rockefeller version at $500 per person consists of a tasting of gourmet oyster dishes, while the Malpèque version at $100 per person is for raw oyster lovers looking for a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. The fresh oyster tasting is accompanied by a buffet dinner. The evening will also feature entertainment, free drinks, contests, music, and door prizes.

Tickets are on sale at the Port of Sept-Îles (418 968-1231) and will be available at the Naval Reserve entrance starting at 5 p.m. on the day of the activity.

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Quebec City, Canada, May 29, 2012 – The latest report card from the internationally-recognized Green Marine program shows that the overall environmental performance of ports, terminals and shipowners in Canada and the U.S. has improved for the third year in a row.

Green Marine, a North American environmental improvement program endorsed by WWF Canada, Ducks Unlimited and Transport Canada, today announced the results of its evaluation of participants’ efforts in nine key areas at the 5th annual GreenTech Conference held in Quebec City, Canada.

Participants, including major shipowners, ports and terminals from the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River, Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, scored an overall performance level of 3 out of a possible 5 for 2011, compared to 2.7 achieved in 2010. Shipowners posted the highest scores in their efforts to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions, which contribute to smog and acid rain; while ports stood out in their leadership in encouraging their tenants and users to adopt best sustainable practices. Individual company results were also revealed at the certification ceremony and can be viewed in the progress report at http://www.green-marine.org/home. (See Notes below for how the scores work.)

David Bolduc, Green Marine executive director, said: “Green Marine celebrates its fifth anniversary this year with a number of significant achievements. Our program continues to significantly expand its membership, we signed a key partnership agreement with Transport Canada and our latest results show that the marine shipping industry is serious about its environmental responsibilities.”

Green Marine has added 23 new participants during the last 18 months — including the ports of Saint John, Nanaimo and Halifax, 4 American terminals owned by Ceres, six Canadian terminals owned by McAsphalt Industries, terminals owned by Neptune, and B.C.’s Seaspan Marine and Island Tug and Barge among others. Winner of the Green Shipping Initiative of the Year at Sustainable Shipping Awards 2011, Green Marine also developed additional performance indicators for the prevention of spills and leakages and garbage management.

Ray Johnston, president of Green Marine Management Corporation and of the Chamber of Marine Commerce in Ottawa, said: “Marine is the most environmentally friendly mode of transport by virtue of its fuel efficiency and huge carrying capacity. Through Green Marine, shipowners, ports and terminals are challenging themselves to continuously raise the bar higher.”

Green Marine Evaluation Process
Results are based on a scale of 1 to 5 evaluated against performance indicators in nine key areas.

• Level 1 Regulatory compliance
• Level 2 Participants have surpassed their regulatory obligations and introduced systematic use of defined best practices, for example, shipowners take preventive measures to reduce the risk of discharging oily waters at sea or take measures to reduce fuel consumption, such as reducing speed, optimizing loading of ships and adapting voyage routes to weather conditions and tidal currents.
• Level 3 Participants quantified their company’s environmental impacts and integrated best practices into a formal management plan, for example, shipowners have completed an annual inventory of the company’s air emissions, such as GHG, SOX and/or NOX emissions. Ports, terminals and shipyards carry out actions to reduce dust, noise, excessive light and implement formal procedures for preventing water and land pollution as well as for handling community complaints.
• Level 4 Participants have introduced/trialled new technologies, for example, to reduce air emissions or the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species. Ports, terminals and shipyards install storm water treatment devices.
• Level 5 Participants have shown excellence by achieving defined reduction targets or systemic use of technologies, for example, shipowners allocate 75 % of annual fuel consumption to fuel with a sulphur content equal to or less than 1.5 %; which is significantly lower than the 2011 international standard of 4.5%.

Green Marine Overview

Green Marine’s environmental program targets a number of issues including greenhouse gases, cargo waste management, community impacts (noise, dust, odors, and light), water and land pollution prevention and environmental leadership. While Green Marine is a voluntary initiative, participants agree to undergo a rigorous external audit every two years, which is performed by Lloyds Registry Quality Assurance. Green Marine’s membership has doubled to 161 members made up of 67 participants, 54 partners and 40 supporters — from coast to coast, in Canada and the United States.

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