By Ian Bickis, The Canadian Press
The closed rail line and Port of Churchill in Churchill, Man., Tuesday, July 3, 2018. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods)
Manitoba’s premier says studies showing that year-round shipping is possible from the Port of Churchill boost the case for expanding the Arctic deepsea port.
“Churchill could be a year-round port right now, with current technology and using icebreakers and ships that are a lot cheaper, a lot more affordable than we previously thought,” said Kinew at a press conference Friday.
The reports say advances in marine technology and declining sea ice due to climate change mean shipping can be greatly expanded from the current four-month window.
They show the waterways could be navigated year-round by icebreakers costing between $100 million and $410 million, rather than the billions of dollars it would cost for more heavy-duty ships.
Properly designed bulk carriers costing between $60 and $70 million could also navigate the route for nine to 10 months a year under most conditions, one of the studies says.
Manitoba’s premier says studies showing that year-round shipping is possible from the Port of Churchill boost the case for expanding the Arctic deepsea port.
“Churchill could be a year-round port right now, with current technology and using icebreakers and ships that are a lot cheaper, a lot more affordable than we previously thought,” said Kinew at a press conference Friday.
The reports say advances in marine technology and declining sea ice due to climate change mean shipping can be greatly expanded from the current four-month window.
They show the waterways could be navigated year-round by icebreakers costing between $100 million and $410 million, rather than the billions of dollars it would cost for more heavy-duty ships.
Properly designed bulk carriers costing between $60 and $70 million could also navigate the route for nine to 10 months a year under most conditions, one of the studies says.
