Nunavik

Three stowaaways were saved from freezing in the Elbe port of Brunsbüttel. They actually wanted to go to Ireland, but had made the wrong choice when hiding on the "Nunavik", which is bound for the icy waters of Deception Bay. In Brunsbüttel they sneaked on board the bulk carrier in the early morning. The three were very lucky that they were discovered during the attempt. The crew of the 188 meter long freighter "Nunavik" noticed the trio at 4.30 a.m. during the night watch. The three men had crept across the pier to the gangway in the Elbe port and climbed on board. There they hid in the free-fall lifeboat attached to the stern. The captain alerted the federal police. With tips from the crew, the officers from the Brunsbüttel federal police station found the three in the lifeboat. After safely exiting the lifeboat, they were taken to the office at the lock for identification purposes and questioned. The trio consisted of two Moroccans aged 29 and 32 and a 21-year-old Syrian who has a valid residence permit for Germany. When questioned, officials determined that Ireland was to be the destination of the trip. The Deception Bay loading port planned by the freighter sounds British, but it is located on the Hudson Strait in Canada with actual temperatures of 20 degrees below zero. On the way to the port of loading, the "Nunavik" always passes Greenland, which would have led to permafrost in the lifeboat after just a few days. The Syrian man was released after police action. The two Moroccans were handed over to the immigration authorities. The authorities are now trying to clarify how the three were able to get into the hermetically sealed and monitored port area. The completely fenced facility is also monitored with video technology.

Fednav, a Canadian-owned company and world leader in Arctic navigation, on Sept. 19 announced that its vessel, the MV Nunavik sailed from Deception Bay en route to China via Canada’s Northwest Passage, with a full cargo of nickel concentrate. The Nunavik will be one of the first commercial vessels to transit the Northwest Passage completely, and the first to do so unescorted with an Arctic cargo, and with Canadian expertise. The Nunavik is the most powerful conventional (non-nuclear) icebreaking bulk carrier in the world, and sails from Deception Bay, Northern Quebec year round, transporting product from the Canadian Royalties mine. The Nunavik will deliver 23,000 tons of nickel concentrate to Bayuquan in China.