Community celebrates as Baffin Fisheries’ Inuksuk II sets sail after many setbacks
It took a dozen swings for Baffin Fisheries chairperson Kelly Kilabuk to break a champagne bottle on the hull of the Inuksuk II.
But when the glass shattered, the journey was finally over. The Nunavut-owned fishery company could set sail into its next era.
“I can remember many, many years ago, we said, ‘One day we’re going to build this vessel, we’re going to sail it into Iqaluit and we’re going to smash the champagne bottle against the hull,’” CEO Chris Flanagan said in an interview.
“It’s going to deliver a lot of returns for many years, so I’m thrilled.”
Inuksuk II, Baffin Fisheries’ newest vessel, was christened during a ceremony at the Iqaluit deepsea port Tuesday attended by at least 50 employees, board members, government officials and community members.
Inuksuk II is the third fishing vessel in the company’s fleet. It replaces Inuksuk I, a vessel the company has since sold to a buyer in the Faroe Islands.
Getting the ship to port in Iqaluit has taken several years.
After announcing the $72.5-million purchase of the vessel in 2021, Baffin Fisheries encountered several delays and challenges.
COVID-19 made access to the shipyard in Turkey difficult, and a Russian attack on a Ukrainian metal supplier delayed construction, Flanagan said.
Last October, an engine failure stalled the vessel on its maiden voyage, forcing a return to Turkey for repairs.
In January, Inuksuk II arrived in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The vessel is 79.5 metres long, nine storeys tall from the top deck to the bottom storage area, and carries a crew of 32.
“It’s the largest Canadian-owned fishing vessel,” Flanagan said.
On board, there is a fish processing plant, which can process 55 tons of turbot and 65 tons of shrimp per day.
In total, the ship has the capacity to hold 1,200 tons of turbot and 900 tons of shrimp.
In addition to the new range of computers for mapping, the crew’s quarters include improved internet service, and amenities such as a gym and sauna.
“Our general trip now is six to seven weeks, so you need good accommodations to keep everybody comfortable and the internet to keep people connected with home as well,” said Shane Noonan, the ship’s captain, adding workers used to be able to call home only once a week.
Baffin Fisheries is jointly owned by the hunters and trappers associations of Iqaluit, Kimmirut, Clyde River, Pangnirtung and Pond Inlet.
Acquiring and operating the Inuksuk II is a “Canadian success story,” Flanagan said, with hopes the vessel could operate for the next 25 to 30 years.
While Flanagan is set to retire as CEO in August, he’s excited to see what Inuksuk II brings to its community owners — a sentiment Kilabuk shares.
“It is owned by Inuit here on Inuit land, in Iqaluit, and it’s been a lot of work,” she said.
“It’s many years of a vision that has become reality.”