Port-Cartier, Quebec, January 10, 2007 — The Québec Cartier Mining Company today awarded Captain Dominic Francis Martins, commander of the Berge Atlantic, the traditional iron-headed cane for being the first transatlantic ore carrier to sail into the Company’s harbour in 2007.
The Berge Atlantic, built in 1998 and flying the Norwegian flag, docked at 1:00 p.m. January 9. The vessel, which has a capacity of 172,704 deadweight tonnes and carries a crew of 26, will head back out to sea on January 12 after taking on 120,000 tonnes of iron pellets and 40,000 tonnes of iron ore concentrate for the European market. It will take about ten days to reach its destination across the Atlantic Ocean.
“This shipment is the first of many Québec Cartier looks forward to in 2007,” said Serge Miller, General Manager – Pellet Plant and Port. “Québec Cartier’s port has for many years been Canada’s largest private facility in terms of volume handled. Our port facilities provide exceptionally efficient transhipment services and are highly appreciated by shipowners, so we are very proud to receive vessels like the Berge Atlantic, which carry our quality products to a wide range of destinations across the Americas and in Europe, Africa and Asia.”
Québec Cartier Mining Company is one of Canada's leading suppliers of iron ore to steel markets around the world. As both a mining and primary processing company, it employs some 2,000 people and operates major installations on the north shore of the Gulf of St-Lawrence. Mont-Wright is where Québec Cartier operates one of the largest open mine pits in North America, as well as an iron ore concentration plant. The site is linked by Company rail to the industrial complex of Port-Cartier where rail workshops, an internationally competitive pellet plant, a private port and the head offices of the company are located. Committed to the principles of sustainable development, Québec Cartier Mining Company has built its reputation on the pursuit of excellence, quality products, talented employees and environmental leadership in its sector, as well as effective management that creates shareholder value.