For immediate release February 12, 2020

(Happy Valley-Goose Bay) – Severe ice conditions near the St. Barbe coast continue to impact ferry service across the Strait of Belle Isle. The Qajaq W completed crossings on Tuesday, February 11 with the assistance of the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker CCGS Henry Larsen. Due to a required crew change, the icebreaker is unavailable for escort service on Wednesday, February 12. The icebreaker is expected to return to the St. Barbe area on Thursday morning, February 13 to escort the Qajaq W on its regular run.

Ice conditions for the majority of the distance from Blanc Sablon are normal for early winter, with about two feet of first year ice. The Qajaq W is capable of passing through this type of ice with relative ease. The major current problem is an ice ridge that has formed on the Newfoundland coast outside Anchor Point, blocking access to St. Barbe Harbour. The ridge is 12 to 14 feet high and comprised of ice that is stacked high and kept tight to the coast by southwesterly winds. Environment Canada states it is not uncommon for ridging to exceed 15 to 20 feet. Winds are forecast to ease at times over the next few days.

“The pressure on the ice ridge has been so intense because of the wind that it has been impossible at times for the Henry Larsen to get through to St. Barbe,” says LMI President and CEO Peter Woodward. “If we attempted to get through in these types of conditions, we would damage our ship and risk having it out of service for months. We cannot put the safety of our ship, our passengers, and crew at risk.”

January is typically the start of the winter ice season in the Straits. During January of 2020, the Qajaq W missed five crossings, all due to high winds. The first missed crossings in February due to ice conditions were on February 10. The Qajaq W operated on February 11 with two crossings.
LMI continues to monitor weather and ice conditions and will post updates to its website, to media organizations, and to community leaders along the Straits and south Labrador coast.
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For further information, contact:
Peter Woodward, LMI President and CEO
(709) 896-2421

Labrador Marine marks one-year milestone with Labrador marine contracts
Focus on continuous improvement

Happy Valley-Goose Bay – Labrador Marine, owner and operator of the Kamutik W and Qajaq W, completed its first year of operation under its long-term marine contracts with the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador on January 27, with the crossing of the Qajaq W on the Strait of Belle Isle. The Kamutik W completed its first season on Labrador’s north coast on December 9.
 
Despite the worst winter ice conditions on the Straits in a generation and a stormy autumn on Labrador’s north coast, Labrador Marine successfully completed its inaugural year with the two vessels. All freight was delivered to the north coast by the end of the season, five days earlier than in 2017 and nine days earlier than in 2018, including an additional trip.
 
“Both services are vital to the people and to the economy of Labrador,” says Labrador Marine President and CEO Peter Woodward. “We identified some issues that affected service in 2019 and are working diligently to make sure that we put fixes in place for 2020.”
 
North coast residents will see improvements to freight handling and delivery in 2020. LMI is working to streamline all aspects of freight handling, from acceptance at the terminal in Goose Bay to delivery in north coast communities. The company will implement a new freight tracking system in 2020 that will keep customers up to date on the status of their shipments.
 
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
Labrador Marine has invested significantly in infrastructure, including installation of a new ramp on the south-side of the dock at St. Barbe. This allows the Qajaq W to resume service quickly after major storms in the Straits, since the vessel is now protected from undertow and sea swell on the dock’s north side. In another development, LMI has taken over the catering service on board the Qajaq W. All staff remain in place and are committed to providing exceptional service.
 
REDUCING CARBON FOOTPRINT
The two modern vessels on the Labrador service allow LMI to reduce its carbon footprint. The Qajaq W is connected to shore power overnight at St. Barbe and will soon have a shore power connection at Blanc Sablon. This eliminates the need for diesel fuel to keep the vessel functional during non-operating periods. The Kamutik W is connected to shore power while overwintering in Lewisporte.
 
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Labrador Marine is committed to the highest level of customer service. As the operator of the two marine contracts, LMI is best placed to resolve all customer service issues. All inquiries should be directed to Operations Manager Dave Leyden at (709) 535-3351 or by email at [email protected]
    
FOCUS ON CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
LMI’s two marine contracts are long-term, 12 years for the Straits service and 15 years for northern Labrador. With two modern ice-class vessels and significant capacity for passengers, vehicles, and freight, LMI is well-placed to meet demand and achieve customer satisfaction.
 
“We are strongly focused on close and continuous monitoring on both the Straits and north coast service,” says LMI Marine Superintendent Captain Austin Daley. “We will take action to address areas where we encounter service issues or where we find room for improvement. Our staff onshore and onboard are committed to providing the highest level of service to our clients and customers.”
 
 For further information, contact:
Peter Woodward, LMI President and CEO
(709) 896-2421