Vale's Winter Shipping Program
For normal operations, the annual shipping program will be as follows:
| December 7 – January 21 | No Shipping |
| January 22 – April 6 | Four (4) Nickel Shipments |
| April 7 – May 21 | No Shipping |
| May 22 – December 6 | Shipping of Nickel and Copper, plus any other shipments |
During the winter shipping period of January 22 – April 6, Vale Newfoundland & Labrador Limited (Vale NL) will mark the ship’s track with colored reflective markers which are placed every 250 meters along the track where the track is straight. The markers will be closer together in areas where the track turns, at the crossing signs and in the area of the star turn in Edward’s Cove. The reflective markers will be colored; they will be red on the north side of the track and green on the south side of the track. The map on the other side of this sheet sets out the location of the ice crossings and shows which side of the track has the red markers and which side of the track has green markers. Vale along with Sikumiut has developed a pontoon structure that is deployed after the ship has passed by. This structure is located near the Taktok crossing.
Each winter the ship will choose either the northern or southern route. Once the route is chosen, it will remain the same for all voyages during that winter.
The blue crossings will be constructed after the ship has gone into Edward’s Cove and both the blue and the orange crossings will be constructed after the ship has left. Each safe crossing will be marked with lights and the sign will say whether the crossing is safe or not safe to cross. The pontoon structure is deployed after the ship has passed by.
If you do not know the ships activities, go to a crossing location and the sign will indicate whether the ship’s track is safe to cross.
How can you find out about the ship’s movement
- Call the Vale NL’s shipping information line at 1 877 922 SHIP (7447)
- Visit Vale NL’s website at vinl.valeinco.com
- Listen to Okalakatiget Radio broadcast for regular updates.
- Call Gus Dicker or Ron Webb at 922 1999
The ship’s track marking and safe crossings will be constructed and maintained by Sikumiut.