NTCL moves barge traffic earlier to avoid low water

NTCL has rejigged its barge schedule on the Mackenzie River this year after unprecedented low water levels last year prevented its second barge from reaching Fort Good Hope last  September.

Right now, water levels are high enough to move goods along the river, said Bill Smith, NTCL's vice-president of logistics and business Development.

"There real question is where do we think it will be in three to four weeks? After last year, that just wasn't a risk we were prepared to take again, and of course, neither were our customers."

Last year, the shipping season on the Mackenzie River shut down roughly a month early because of low water levels. This year, levels are even lower — approaching or at all-time lows on all major rivers across the territory.

This year, the company moved more of its cargo earlier in the season. Smith said all but 200 tons out of about 6,000 tons of dry goods has either been delivered or will arrive in the next three to four weeks.

NTCL is also delivering more goods into the N.W.T. from the North.

"We'll bring in a tanker over Alaska into the west and then move our fuel from the north down to the south areas as far as Fort Good Hope."  

Little inflow into Mackenzie

"The Mackenzie River has six or seven areas on it where water levels are traditionally low, even in good years," Smith said. "Over the last year or so, we've seen not much inflow of water into the Mackenzie.

"It presents a challenge, even for us who have equipment that's purpose-built and designed for shallow areas. We found we just couldn't transit some areas last year."

Smith says the ramparts near Fort Good Hope are the biggest barriers to delivering on the Mackenzie -- especially when water levels are low.

The last deadline to move cargo north from Hay River is August 4.