New ice, old ice, ice from glaciers, ice formations, shifts and drifts of ice, multi layers of ice – operating ice-class vessels in waters that must be the world’s toughest for bulk carrier trade – that is what Fednav Limited of Montreal, Canada does. Fednav’s accumulated knowledge of operating in ice is extremely impressive, and the company has vessels trading “on top of” Canada. We were received by Senior Vice President Fred G. Hansen and Thomas H. Paterson, Vice President of Projects & Business Development, at the Montreal headquarters of the Fednav Group.

The Group’s activities are primarily concerned with international and domestic ocean transportation, cargo handling, and related logistics. Fednav is directly involved in shipowning, chartering, operating about 80 bulk carriers and, through its cargo terminals, handling a wide range of bulk, breakbulk and project cargoes. The Group’s owned fleet is largely specialised and includes vessels that will service long-term contracts in many areas of the world, such as the Arctic, where special and particular expertise is required.
Throughout its 60-year history, Fednav has had a strong presence in Canadian marine activities, with an emphasis on innovation and partnering to provide solutions for major industrial clients. This is no more evident than in the 50 years that Fednav has operated in Arctic waters. Whether it be providing offshore services in the Beaufort Sea or re-supply services to rural communities, or shipping base metal concentrates from the Alaskan Red Dog Mine or the Polaris, Nanisivik and Raglan Mines located in Northern Canada, or transporting crude oil from Bent Horn, located at latitude 76 degrees 77 minutes north, longitude 104 degrees 05 minutes west, Fednav has always welcomed the challenges that the Arctic provides.
“We have a high level of confidence in Det Norske Veritas,” says Hansen. Fednav is an important customer for DNV. In 1995, Fednav ordered its first newbuildings to DNV class from Daewoo – Federal Baffin and Federal Franklin, both with DNV Ice Class 1A* Notations. These vessels both have rather radical bow and stern designs, allowing operations in the Canadian Arctic with ice-breaker assistance. “These were not cheap ships,” says Hansen, “but Daewoo accepted our in-house design as it was approved and supported by DNV, which also has extensive ice experience.” These two vessels are 44,000 dwt geared bulk carriers, able to trade year-round to St. Lawrence and Baltic ports and to the Canadian Arctic during summer months. All of Fednav’s Arctic operations are managed through its wholly owned subsidiary, Canarctic Shipping.
In addition, the company also owns and operates a subsidiary company, Enfotec Technical Services Inc., in Ottawa. Enfotec specialises in providing Arctic ice studies as well as analyses that include vessel routing services for ships operating in ice-covered waters. IceNav is Enfotec’s core business tool, providing a shipboard, computerised ice-navigation system that gives customers’ vessels near real-time satellite images, charts and forecasts of ice conditions. This company also specialises in environmental impact assessments and marine accessibility studies for marine operations in ice-covered waters.
A feature of Fednav’s Arctic operations is that, in addition to the master on board, the vessels trading in the Arctic also have an ice advisor. The ice advisors are specially trained individuals who understand ice. “It is a question of safety and reputation,” says Tom Paterson. “Trading in the Arctic waters is about understanding and respecting the conditions and our ice advisors are our specialists – of course together with the rest of the crew. We have seen vessels owned by other shipowners coming into the St. Lawrence taking on a lot of ice due to spray coming on to the vessels. Many masters do not really understand when it is time to slow down to avoid this…! After all, it is not so easy to get rid of some 800 tons of ice on a vessel.”
“To us,” continues Hansen, “DNV has a clear understanding of our commercial and operational challenges and requirements – this is what made the difference when we decided to class with DNV and this is what makes the difference today as well. There are the rules that have to be followed – but working with DNV we do not see this as being a problem but as the solution, helped by the enthusiasm of the individuals we meet at DNV. We find that refreshing and, as we have a reputation of having long-term relationships with our customers, suppliers and other business connections, we look forward to many years of working with DNV,” concludes Fred Hansen.
We, meaning Ulf Freudendahl as the head of Bulk Carriers in DNV, Michael Lavidas from DNV Americas, Jean-François Bigras, the Station Manager in Montreal, and myself, were all duly impressed by Fednav’s operations, history, and knowledge of the trades in which the company is involved.