Shipping activity in Canada's northern ocean waters pushed even higher in 2023, reaching 205 vessels, an 11.4 per cent increase over 184 vessels recorded in 2022, according to the Canadian Coast Guard.

There were 150 vessels in 2021, and in 2021 there were 111.

The most common type of ship found in the waters off of Nunavut were bulk carriers, the type that carry iron ore from the Mary River iron mine, 160 km southwest of Pond Inlet. There were 41 in that category.

General cargo, such as sealift vessels, and adventurers were next on the list at 28 each.

These vessels sailed into an area that the Canadian Coast Guard classifies as the Northern Canada Vessel Traffic Services Zone (NORDREG), which includes the waters surrounding Nunavut, Hudson Bay and the Western Arctic Ocean, such as along the Beaufort Delta.

There were 42 vessels that made 46 full transits of the famed Northwest Passage in 2023 -- 17 of them were pleasure craft and sail boats, while 11 were cargo ships and 11 others were passenger boats such as cruise ships.

Sealift companies

There are two major sealift cargo companies that serve Nunavut.

Nunavut Sealink and Supply (NSSI) has 10 cargo vessels based in the ports of Sainte-Catherine, Que., B茅cancour, Que. and Valleyfield, Que. NSSI and Taqramut Transport Inc. (TTI) carry cargo to Nunavik and Nunavut. The company plans more than 30 supply trips in 2024 for its private and commercial customers.

NSSI is a joint-venture between Arctic Cooperatives Ltd., Desgagnes Transarctik Inc., Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, Sakku Investments Corporation and Kitikmeot Corporation. It has offices in Iqaluit and Quebec.

Its competitor, Nunavut Eastern Arctic Shipping (NEAS) is majority-owned by Nunavut-based Inuit businesses. In 2024, NEAS will have six cargo vessels sailing from the port of B茅cancour, Que.

Fact file

Vessels present in Northern Canada Vessel Traffic Services Zone (NORDREG) waters in 2023

Bulk carriers: 41

General cargo: 28

Adventurers: 28

Passenger vessels: 21

Fishing vessels: 19

Tugboats: 15

Vessels engaged in research: 15

Tankers: 13

Canadian icebreaker: 8

Search and rescue: 4

Navy: 3

Foreign icebreaker: 2

Canadian Coast Guard pollution response: 2

Canadian Coast Guard buoy tender: 2

Training: 2

Canadian Coast Guard surveillance vessel: 1

Cable laying operations: 1

Total: 205

Source: Canadian Coast Guard