Wind, ice, brutal storms—shipping in the Arctic means fighting the elements
Cargo ships battle the elements each summer to reach remote Arctic communities with essential supplies
"The Arctic. It's a rough environment—one of the most challenging navigational waters in the world," says Michel Duplain, Captain of the Sedna Desgagnés.
This fleet of cargo ships face ice-choked waters, shallow passages, high winds and battering waves on their journey to deliver essential supplies to remote communities in Canada's North. Each year, they only have a few weeks throughout the summer where the weather allows for access to these hard-to-reach areas. And even still, it's a gamble.
It's the High Arctic. It's completely unpredictable.- Joshua Desgagnés-Sirdey, Lead Checker, Sedna Desgagnés
The pressure is on to reach these isolated communities, despite the obstacles and delays, as some only receive one annual sealift. With no roads in or out, these deliveries are their lifeline. "We only get one boat a year, so if you miss the first one, you gotta wait till next year to get it," says Frank Holland, Co-Op Manager, Grise Fiord.
Watch the new documentary series, High Arctic Haulers, as it follows the sealift on its journey to the Far North.