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Real life stories as a flight service specialist (FSS): Inukjuak FSS

Ice and ships along Hudson Bay and Ungava Bay

(Precedent story: raisins and blueberries in Inukjuak)

The wheelhouse of a cargo ship near Inukjuak in 1982
The wheelhouse of a cargo ship near Inukjuak in 1982
A radio operator on board a ship anchored near Inukjuak around 1982
A radio operator on board a ship anchored near Inukjuak around 1982

Several ships naviguate along the Hudson Bay and Ungava Bay up in Northern Quebec, in the Nunavik, during summer. Sometimes, as flight service specialists  (FSS) working for Transport Canada, we are allowed to get on board to take few pictures, like it was the case for the two photos above.

When a ship makes a long journey towards the small villages along the Hudson Bay and Ungava bay, it regularly strikes small pieces of ice. The crew has to determine if the boat’s hull will be resistant enough to stay on the desired path.

Unfortunately, it is not always possible to evaluate the situation correctly and the hull sometimes breaks under the impact with the ice. The photo below shows the ship Kanguk, off Inukjuak in autumn 1982, its hull damaged during its journey towards one of the small villages along the coast.

Kanguk broken hull in Inukjuak
Kanguk broken hull in Inukjuak

(Next story: enroute for the second posting: Rouyn-Noranda FSS)

For more real life stories of a FSS in Inukjuak, click on the following link: Flight service specialist (FSS) in Inukjuak