Project Summary
The Government of Nunavut (GN), through Community and Government Services (CGS) on behalf of the Department of Economic Development and Transportation (EDT), plans to build a deep sea port (DSP) for the City of Iqaluit (the Project). Funding for the Project is available through the New Canada Build Fund and the GN.
The Project
The proposed location for the DSP is opposite the south end of Polaris Reef in Koojesse Inlet, northwest of the existing fuel resupply facility at Inuit Head and south of the existing causeway and parking area. There are no other commercial or residential developments in the area.
The Project includes a deep sea wharf, a sealift cargo laydown area and landing ramp for barges, a new fuel receiving manifold, a new road connecting Akilliq Road to the DSP, and space to relocate mobile site offices that are now at the sealift beach. During construction, there will be blasting of rock to provide fill for the laydown area and shoreline protection material, dredging of soft marine sediments, and Disposal at Sea of the sediments to build the wharf on solid bedrock.
Six options were considered for the location of the DSP. The current project site was selected as the best option because of its good land and vessel access, geotechnical conditions, and the ability for sealift and fuel deliveries to continue uninterrupted during the construction.
Benefits to Iqaluit Residents
The DSP will have significant benefits to the community by improving the safety and efficiency of fuel and sealift deliveries. The DSP will relocate sealift activities away from the tidal flats near the City and separate the activities of industrial vessels, such as tugs and barges, from hunters, fishermen and other small boat users. This will improve the safety of small boat users in the bay.
The new wharf and ramp will provide all-tide access for general cargo vessels and lightering barges. Current activities at the sealift beach are limited to a few hours a day around high tide. The DSP will provide 24 hour access for sealift carriers to offload cargo. The new 4 hectare laydown area will almost double the current laydown area available for managing cargo, while double-handling of cargo will be eliminated as cargo will be placed directly on the wharf using the vessel’s cranes.
The DSP will also have a new fuel manifold that will eliminate the need to routinely use floating fuel hoses, thus reducing the risk of fuel spills into water, and allowing for safer and more efficient fuel receipt.
Construction
Construction is planned to start in summer 2018 with the arrival of the first sealift and continue through 2019 and 2020. It will take place mostly during the open water months. The DSP will start operating in 2021.
Potable water, sanitary and solid waste disposal, and fuel will be provided by City services. The primary fuel required for marine and land-based equipment will be diesel. Refuelling of equipment will be done in designated fuelling areas or using portable containment. The marine fleet will refuel at sea from bunker tanks. Construction equipment is expected to include drill rigs, excavators, rock transport trucks, front end loaders, compactors, dozers and graders, cranes and forklifts and other equipment. A marine derrick, dump/material scows, small workboats and tugboats will also be needed.
Approximately 30 workers will be needed for construction. Non-local workers will stay in local accommodations. Construction equipment will arrive on the sealift and workers and consumables will arrive by scheduled flights, and charter flights will be used if needed.
A Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) will provide mitigation and monitoring commitments for the construction phase of the Project.
Operations
Discussions are ongoing between EDT and the City Mayor and Council regarding the operation and maintenance of the DSP. This includes the potential use of the DSP ramp by commercial and recreational boaters.
Any future commercial development of the DSP will be permitted separately and therefore, the Project is only concerned with existing levels of activity.
Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit
Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) has been gathered on the local site conditions, harvesting, travel routes and water/ice access and considered in the design and planning of the Iqaluit DSP and SCH projects through Hunters and Trappers Association (HTA) meetings, elder interviews, and a Boaters’ Working Group.
Community Engagement Program
There has been consultation with the community, including hunters, fishers, residents, City Mayor and Council, HTA, Qikiqtani Inuit Association, the Boater’s Working Group, sealift and fuel carriers, and others since October 2015. Meetings, interviews, workshops and open houses were used to share information and receive comments, concerns and suggestions about the Project both in English and Inuktitut, as well as in written French and Inuinnaqtun. The feedback has been considered within the design of the DSP, construction planning, and the development of the management plans. Consultation will continue during the construction of the Project.