Sikumiut

Sikumiut Environmental

Management Ltd.

Bridging the Gap Shipping and Traditional Resource Use

March 2013

Overview

Sikumiut Background The Challenge The Solution The Benefits

Sikumiut Environmental Management Ltd.

♦ Four partners – 3 Inuit ♦ Aboriginal Business ♦ Nain, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, St. John’s; 25 - 50 staff ♦ Member of NEIA, NOIA PEG-NL ♦ Innovation Award Winner ♦ www.sikumiut.ca

“ combining scientific and technical

strengths with Inuit Knowledge””

Sikumiut Environmental Management Ltd.

Inuit Travel Resource Harvesting Community Interchange Connecting with the Environment

The Challenge – Shipping versus Environment

Voisey’s Bay Project Year-Round Shipments of

Concentrate

Radarsat Image shows the ships track in landfast ice

The Challenge

Mild Winter Conditions

increased re-freeze times for ships track travel delays, increased hazards for snowmobile travelers

Periods of unsafe conditions due to slow re-freeze

The Solution

Pontoon Crossings Concept Prototype Design Fabricate Operation – Deployment, Removal

Design Considerations (1 of 2) Length of Track (km) 70

Width of Track (m) 30

Ice Condition Near Track Crossings go from smooth, land fast ice on both sides of the track. Vessel traffic is confined to the first track of the season, with little or no disturbance to the sides during subsequent transits.

Ice Thickness 1 metre

Ice Formation Dec/Jan freeze up April/May break up

Shipping Restrictions 2 six week periods, Dec/Jan and April/May

Tide Conditions No tide or wave actions of design significance

Length of Ice Season (weeks) 16

Number of Voyages per Season 4

Number of Transits 8

Snowmobile Traffic Intensive around area

Number of Crossings Up to 8

Type/Number of Crossings 6 Smoothed Ice ( 3 to 5 typical) 2 Pontoon (Also a detour around Edward’s Cove)

Weather during Ice Season Variable but often clear to allow working on the track. Working conditions usually around -20 degrees C with light winds.

Design Considerations (2 of 2) Day Light (hrs) during Ice Season 8

Refreeze Rate 1 to 14 days

Communications Track and Crossing conditions are available from website, phone messages and local radio message

Safety Safety issues are addressed with detailed safety procedures and equipment. These include safety briefings, safe work determination, floatation vests, helmets, first aid kits, first aid training, snow mobile handling training, satellite phone, navigation equipment, tender vessel, load cells and a buddy system

Approvals NWPA not required

Communities Impacted by Track Nain

Total Population 1500

Cost per crossing type Smooth Ice Crossing $5000 per crossing

Pontoon Crossing $15000 per unit; $30,000 support equipment

Pontoon Crossing Operations Deployment Time 2 to 4 hrs

Removal Time 2 to 4 hrs

Personnel 2 x 3 man teams

“Bridge” Prototype

1. Floating Dock System 2. Adapted (as shown) for towing

on ice 3. Single Link Prototype

a. Fabricated b. Field tested

• 4. Full Design completed 5. Fabrication Summer 2007 6. Install 2008

Concept Evolution

Load Testing, Glovertown

Testing During Fabrication

Field Trials

Operation

Deployment across ship track

Operation

Completed Crossing with safety markers in place

Operation

Removal

“Through Sikumiut’s involvement in assisting key stakeholders to understand

concerns and explore mitigations around winter shipping, we were able to

address an issue central to Inuit approval for the Voisey’s Bay Nickel Project. Vale INCO

NL is now using an Inuit business to continually

improve its ability to conduct winter shipping safely and

effectively.”

Bob Cooper, President Vale INCO Newfoundland and Labrador Ltd.

Discovery Channel - Mighty Ships “UMIAK I” Video Clip ( Please see video , “Umiak Mighty Ships” if you have codec issues with this clip)

Sikumiut Environmental Management Ltd. Sikumiut Environmental Management Ltd.

Vale - Owner, Operator Voisey’s Bay Mine and Mill FedNav - Owner, Operator MV Umiak I MSI Marine Services International, St. John’s NL - Stability Analysis Fab-Tech Industries, Glovertown, NL - Fabrication Tiller Engineering Inc. St. John’s NL - Structural Certification NewTech Coatings (DFB Group) St. John’s NL - Low Friction Coating Sikumiut Project Manager - E. Fancey, P. Eng.

Credits, Acknowledgements

Thank You