Kamutik W sets sail for the first time to Labrador's north coast

Labradorians watchedclosely as thenew ferry servicing the north coast setoff on its inaugural run Tuesday afternoon from Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

"I think the boat is very nice," said Vivian Antoine, a Happy Valley-Goose Bay resident originally from Natuashish, who was among the crowd of onlookers that gathered Monday to catch a glimpse of theKamutik W in portprior to its departure.

The ferry is named after an Inuit sled designed for snowy and icy conditions.

"Looks like a qamutik anyway when I look at it a big qamutik," said Antoine,with a laugh.

The vessel arrived in Happy Valley-Goose Bay on Sunday, a few weeks later than its operator, Labrador Marine, had planned. The ferry was delayed overseas, undergoing last minute renovations that included upgradesto its accommodations.

"It's been a long process and a little bit overdue but we finally have her here," said Mel Woodward, the vice-president of marketing for the Woodward Group of Companies.

"We were limited in the time that we had to do the retrofit and we knew it was going to be a tight window."

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The government awarded a 15-year, approximately $14.6-millioncontract to operate the north coast ferry service to Labrador Marine, which is part of the Woodward Group of Companies,last fall, in partnershipwith Nunatsiavut Marine.

Woodward said the company has been working continuously since then to get the vessel prepared.

"We're anxious to get ready and get started with the service," Woodward said.

'Revolutionary' service

The new, eight-year-oldferry boasts roll-on, roll-off service for vehicles for the first time on the coast.

"It's revolutionary with respect to the service that we're going to have on the Labrador coast," Woodward said.

"It transcendsthe way people and goods have been moved."

But some concerns have been raised whether or not the coast'ssmall ports can handle large vehicles, like tractor trailers, movingfrom ship to shore at different tidal levels.

Dennis White, the vice-president of operations for the Woodward Group of Companies,saidlongramps added to the Kamutikshould help with loading and offloading.Ramps forthe wharves in north coast communities arealso close to completion, he said.

"We got two more to do: Nain and Natuashish by the end of next week" White said.

Some onlookers Monday were pleased with the idea of vehicle service.

"That's good, you can go [and] take your machine with you, that's different," said Don Colburn, who lives in Happy Valley-Goose Baybut is originally from Postville, which is on the Kamutik's run.

The boat can take up to 120 regular-sized vehicles, and has eight spots for tractor trailers. It replaces the Northern Ranger, an aging vessel that launched in 1986.

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