Port Facilities and Ocean Transport

The port facility at Steensby Inlet is designed to accommodate cape-sized ore carriers for 12 months each year. Shipment of ore from Steensby Inlet primarily to the European market, together with all port assistance vessels, is assumed to be a service provided by major international shipping company(s), coordinated by Baffinland’s valued shipping partner, Fednav Limited (“Fednav”). The port facility will consist of one ore carrier berth and one service berth. The service berth will be used to harbour tugs and for the delivery of project supplies. Facilities will be provided for re-fueling of tugs.

A comprehensive review of ice conditions and the results of site specific bathymetry studies have been used to establish appropriate shipping lanes, and to recommend the required “ice class” for the dedicated ore carriers. Fednav has designed a cape-size ore carrier, Polar Class 4, of 135,000 dead weight tonnes (dwt) capacity, suitable for dedicated operations between Steensby Port and Europe over a 12-month operating period each year. A fleet of eight vessels will be required to fully service the project requirements, according to the results of detailed ice transit simulation studies.