Sept-Îles, April 11, 2024 – The Port of Sept-Îles and the Centre for Industrial Port Expertise (CEIP, a division of INREST, are pleased to announce, through the Enviro-Actions project, the launch of an innovative near-real-time data collection system.
On April 3, a scientific buoy with state-of-the-art equipment and technology was set out in the waters of the Port of Sept-Îles. Two other fixed stations, located at the Cruise Ship Dock and the Relance Dock in the Port of Sept-Îles, will complement the equipment set up to collect water quality data for the Bay of Sept-Îles. The objective of data transmission in near real time is to issue alerts in case of exceeding thresholds established according to the Enviro-Actions model and to act in preventive mode.
This flagship project of the Centre for Industrial Port Expertise, which was launched in March 2022, was made possible thanks to the financial support of the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité Durable du Québec ($2 million) as part of Advantage St. Lawrence, Quebec’s new maritime vision and the Port of Sept-Îles ($2.5 million) for the demonstration area, the port area of Sept-Îles. The five-year Enviro-Actions project, unique in Quebec, also includes the installation of air quality measurement stations and hydrophones to measure underwater noise produced by commercial vessels and mitigate their adverse impacts on marine wildlife. During the year, awareness and incentives will be added to efforts to reduce underwater noise from anthropogenic sources in the Bay of Sept-Îles.
Enviro-Actions Symposium
The Port of Sept-Îles is also hosting the Enviro-Actions Symposium from May 28 to 30. The event will be presented by the Centre for Industrial Port Expertise, in association with the Quebec Maritime Network, Institut France-Québec maritime and St. Lawrence Economic Development Council, including Jean Lemire, envoy for Quebec’s climate change and biologist by training, kindly accepted the presence of honour.
This event is a unique opportunity for shoreline communities, including those in the region, to learn about the preventive environmental actions implemented by stakeholders in industrial port zones. The Port of Sept-Îles and the Centre for Industrial Port Expertise invite all stakeholders from the research community, industries, environmental organizations, students and citizens to join the event and show their support for the environmental cause (https://www.enviro-actions.com/en).
We also invite all citizens to take this opportunity to come and share their comments on the project and concerns about the environment in a digital vox-pop-type box that will be made available to the public on the event’s web page.
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 a projected volume for 2024 of more than 40 million metric tons. It is also recognized as the largest primary aluminum port terminal in the Americas in terms of operational volume. The facilities at the Port of Sept-Îles play a vital and strategic role in the economy of Eastern Canada. The Port is also deeply committed to sustainable development and has pioneered the first environmental observatory on the St. Lawrence to monitor the marine ecosystem as well as a research chair with Université Laval to study coastal ecosystems and port operations.
ABOUT INREST’S CEIP DIVISION
The Northern Institute for Research in Environment and Occupational Health and Safety directed and implemented the work of the first environmental monitoring observatory in Quebec in the Sept-Îles port zone, which led to the creation of its division, the Centre for Industrial Port Expertise (CEIP). The CEIP’s flagship project is the implementation of the “Enviro-Actions” preventive environmental management model to conserve ecosystems in all port and industrial zones of Quebec’s maritime territory. The Enviro-Actions pilot project includes near-real-time data collection and the issuance of enviro-alerts to managers. New developers will benefit from science-neutral data that promotes social acceptability. This data will reduce the time and cost of collecting certain data required for environmental authorization requests. CEIP’s work is recognized at provincially, nationally and internationally.
QUOTES
“The launch of a scientific buoy combined with the installation of docking stations will enable several water quality parameters in the Bay of Sept-Îles to be monitored in near real time. The INREST team proudly took a major step forward in implementing the Enviro-Actions preventive management model in the port zone thanks all those who participated in the distribution of the buoy and stations. This is a first in Quebec that positions the CEIP and the Port of Sept-Îles as leaders in ensuring sustainable development and the preservation of ecosystems.”
— Julie Carrière, P.Eng. Ph.D., Executive Director, INREST/Centre for Industrial Port Expertise
“Marine transportation is the greenest mode for handling goods and commodities, and we, industries and communities, are all dependent on it. It’s up to everyone to protect the ecosystems that support these activities, and the marine industry sector is very proactive in this regard. The Port of Sept-Îles demonstrates its leadership through its major investment in the Enviro-Actions project.”
— Mélissa Sanikopoulos, Director, Environment & Sustainability, Port of Sept-Îles
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SOURCE:
Mélissa Sanikopoulos
Director, Environment & Sustainability
Port of Sept-Îles
Phone: 418-961-1222
msanikopoulos@portsi.com