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Transportation and Works
October 29, 2011

Changes to the Labrador North Coast Freight Service and
Deadline for the Acceptance of Freight Announced

The MV Astron will take over all freight delivery on the Labrador North Coast for the remainder of the shipping season.

The operators of the MV Dutch Runner have advised the Department of Transportation and Works that they will be pulling the vessel out of the service this weekend. This puts the contractor in a position of default of its obligations under the contract.

“There have been issues with this vessel’s ability to provide service along the Labrador North Coast from the beginning of this season,” said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Transportation and Works. “We are currently working through the necessary formal process to ensure a new vessel is in place for next season. In the meantime, the MV Astron has a proven ability to provide timely freight delivery to the North Coast and I am confident that it will see us through the remainder of this shipping season.”

Upon arrival at Nain, the MV Dutch Runner will offload freight for that community before continuing to Hopedale where it will offload all remaining freight for other communities on the service. The MV Astron will pick up this freight at Hopedale as it continues the scheduled service.

“We are disappointed with the service during this shipping season and we understand the frustration of North Coast residents,” said Minister Hedderson. “Residents and businesses that rely on this service should rest assured that all necessary freight will be delivered before the end of this season.”

Shippers are advised that the deadline for acceptance of freight, for delivery this shipping season, at all terminals of the Labrador Marine Service (Lewisporte and all points north to Nain) is 4:30 p.m., Friday, November 18.

The shipment of goods to the Labrador North Coast will continue for as long as ice and weather conditions allow but delivery of freight received after this cut-off date cannot be assured.

Booking information can still be obtained by phoning CAI Nunatsiavut Marine Inc. at 1-877-896-7075 within Canada or 1-506-858-9963 internationally.

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Media contact:
Roger Scaplen
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 697-5267
rogerscaplen@gov.nl.ca 

2011 10 29             11:30 a.m.

 
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