Marine Transportation Services Final Sailings

Yellowknife (September 8, 2023) – Marine Transportation Services (MTS) cancels final sailings to Norman Wells and Tulita due to low water levels.

Today, the GNWT's Marine Transportation Services announced that the third sailings to the communities of Norman Wells and Tulita have been cancelled due to dangerously low water levels on the Mackenzie River.

Safety of crew, vessels and the environment is paramount. The low water levels make it dangerous to continue to operate on the Mackenzie River.

MTS staff is currently assessing the deck cargo and making alternate plans for shipment. MTS will work directly with affected customers.

Marine Transportation Services staff addressed historically low water levels early in the sailing season and were able to adjust the approach to delivery and as a result all other community resupply will be delivered as scheduled in the coming weeks. A full update on the 2023 shipping season will be provided once all trips are completed.

Customers inquiring about cargo can call MTS toll free at 1-844-574-2023 or 1-867-874-2651

Public and media inquiries at INF_communications@gov.nt.ca

Quick facts

Low water levels have been a challenge all year, not only for MTS, but also Coast Guard and other commercial shipping companies.
While dredging of the Hay River Harbour is an issue, these cancelled trips were due to water levels on the Mackenzie River.
The Vic Ingraham was returning to Hay River with empty barges in a marked channel and sliced the hull on an object - proving the danger.
Fuel supply is not an issue. Fuel for Tulita was delivered earlier in summer, diesel for Deline was to be shipped on this final sailing and stored in Tulita with final trans-shipment to Deline on the winter road in 2024. Diesel for Deline will now be shipped entirely by winter road in 2024.
Norman Wells fuel is supplied directly by Imperial Oil.
MTS will work with communities and customers to make alternate shipping plans - this could include shipping priority items by air and the rest by winter road or next season.
Deliveries to Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR) are going as scheduled.
Deliveries to Fort Good Hope are on their way - a tug with six barges has left Tuktoyaktuk and is scheduled to be in Fort Good Hope this weekend. This tug will return to Tuktoyaktuk and load fuel and deliver to Inuvik.

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