North

MV Nunavik makes it through Northwest Passage on way to Asia

The MV Nunavik reached the Bering Sea this week, becoming one of the first commercial ships to traverse the Northwest Passage without the help of an icebreaker.

Ice-breaking cargo ship in Bering Sea. on way to China

The MV Nunavik at Deception Bay, Que., in winter 2014. The ship left Deception Bay last month carrying a shipment of nickel from Nunavik to China through the Northwest Passage. (Fednav Ltd.)

The MV Nunavik reached the Bering Sea this week, becoming one of the first commercial ships to traverse the Northwest Passage without the help of an icebreaker.

The Fednav-owned ice-breaking cargo ship is carrying 23,000 tons of nickel concentrate from the Canadian Royalties mine in Northern Quebec. It left Deception Bay in northern Quebec on Sept. 19, destined for Asia.

"Having the ability to do it with such a stout and robust ship that's capable of independent operations, and performing the passage unescorted in such a timely and efficient way is quite significant," said Tim Keane, Fednav's senior manager of Arctic Operations and Projects.

It is currently in the Bering Sea between Russia and Alaska and is scheduled to arrive in China on Oct. 14.