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Transportation and Works
Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
August 2, 2011

Vessel Chartered to Assist Labrador North Coast Freight Delivery

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has chartered the MV Astron to clear a backlog of freight destined for Labrador’s north coast.

“Residents in north coast communities have been waiting for this freight and we will do everything in our power to ensure it is delivered,” said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Transportation and Works. “A peak in freight demand at this time, coupled with recent MV Dutch Runner service delays, has led to a backlog of freight destined for the north coast of Labrador. By chartering an additional vessel to complete a delivery cycle, we hope to get things moving along the north coast run.”

The chartered vessel, the MV Astron, is scheduled to arrive at Lewisporte tomorrow (Wednesday, August 3) to be loaded with freight. Once loaded, it will immediately depart for Black Tickle and ports north to Nain. Departure is expected to take place later that evening or Thursday morning.

The MV Dutch Runner is currently operating on a revised schedule to clear backlogged specialized freight to the north coast, including refrigerated containers and construction materials.

This course of action to assist the movement of freight to the north coast was initiated after Minister Hedderson and the Honourable Patty Pottle, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, met with both a delegation headed by the Nunatsiavut Government and with the Mushuau Innu Band Council on July 26.

“I am extremely pleased that a solution has been found to deal with the backlog of freight to the north coast,” said Minister Pottle. “The meetings with the Nunatsiavut Government and the Mushuau Innu Band Council to deal with this issue were very helpful. We’ve clearly heard their concerns and believe we’ve worked out a solution through the chartering of the MV Astron.”

“The marine service is essentially our highway and is extremely important to our people and our communities,” says Nunatsiavut’s First Minister Darryl Shiwak. “We are pleased the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has listened to our concerns and has taken action to deal with the backlog of freight destined for north coast communities. It is our hope that the remainder of the shipping season will continue without any further problems or delays.”

The MV Astron will ensure the freight currently waiting in line for shipping is cleared and delivered. It is expected the MV Dutch Runner will soon return to the standard delivery schedule. Department of Transportation and Works officials will monitor the freight service to ensure all subsequent freight is delivered in a timely manner.

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Media contacts:

Roger Scaplen
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 697-5267
rogerscaplen@gov.nl.ca
 
John Tompkins
Director of Communications
Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
709-729-1674, 728-7762
jtompkins@gov.nl.ca 
Bert Pomeroy
Director of Communications
Nunatsiavut Government
709-896-8582
Bert_Pomeroy@nunatsiavut.com
 

2011 08 02             5:00 p.m.

 
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