Study finds year-round shipping from Port of Churchill may be possible due to shrinking sea ice

According to a new study put out by the government of Manitoba, year-round shipping without the use of expensive icebreakers may be possible from the Port of Churchill.Premier Wab Kinew said in a press conference Friday that the new findings will hopefully push the federal government, alongside private investors, to seriously look into his government's proposal for the expansion of the Arctic port."This breakthrough means we can stop asking if year-round shipping from Churchill is possible," Kinew said. "Now is the time for industry, investors, and governments in Canada and around the world to invest in Churchill.”The study, conducted by the University of Manitoba, Fednav Ltd., and the Arctic Research Foundation, highlights shrinking sea ice, which, alongside advances in marine and icebreaking technology, will mean that the port could theoretically be open year-round or 10 months of the year at a minimum..Currently the port is only operational for four months of the year during the summer, leaving it as a relative white elephant for the remainder of the year.But this new study highlights that with an expansion and funding, it could become a new trade hub between Central Canada and European markets.The study highlighted that, compared to the previous belief that expensive heavy icebreakers would be needed to make the sea lanes navigable, due to receding sea ice, less expensive ships could be used for the same job, dramatically reducing the cost.The cost to operate a year-round icebreaker fleet, according to the study, would cost between just $100 million and $410 million compared to the billions of dollars it would cost to operate heavy icebreakers..If this project were realized, it would drastically cut down on transportation costs of products coming from Central Canada, which typically have to be shipped to either a port on the Atlantic or Pacific coast or to a port on the Great Lakes.At the press conference, Kinew mentioned the fact that a shipment of grain was due to depart Churchill en route to Europe, signalling the impact that the port could have for Central Canada's agriculture industry.Kinew has loudly championed the project and has talked about its potential importance, not just to Manitoba, but to all of Canada.The port was one of the first projects to be referred to the newly created federal major projects office but was not among the projects selected for fast-tracking in the initial selection.

Study finds year-round shipping from Port of Churchill may be possible due to shrinking sea ice

Related Stories

“What is the step before begging?” Kinew bristles at Carney pressure to restore U.S. booze

WATCH: Ontario spends $5 million on new round of community emergency grants

Kinew 'open' to Alberta-Ontario pipeline

Manitoba stays silent as Ford, Smith unveil Northern Shield pipeline route