First vessel of the year

On January 5, 2010, ArcelorMittal Mines Canada awarded Captain James Augustine, commander of the BW Arctic, the traditional ‘iron-headed cane’ for being the first transatlantic ore carrier to sail into the Company’s private Canadian harbour in 2010.

The BW Arctic, built in 2001 and flying the Panama flag, docked at 9 a.m. on January 1. The vessel, which has a capacity of 174,285 deadweight tonnes and carries an Indian crew of 26, headed back out to sea two days later after taking on 110,000 tonnes of iron pellets and 49,000 tonnes of iron concentrate for Corus’ Port Talbot steel plant in the United Kingdom. It will take about 10 days to reach its destination across the Atlantic Ocean.

“This shipment is the first of many ArcelorMittal Mines Canada looks forward to in 2010,” said Côme Desmeules, General Manager, Pellet Plant and Port. “Our port is still Canada’s largest private facility in terms of volume handled. We are very proud to receive vessels like the BW Arctic, which carry our quality products around the world.”

In 2009, the ArcelorMittal Mines Canada port received 340 ships and transhipped over 18 million tonnes of iron concentrate and pellets as well as grain for shipment to customers in America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

Collaboration: Martin Simard, Quebec Steel and Mining Operations