Proving it c an be done again

Five years ago, Northwest Transportation Company Ltd. proved the route can still carry freight. According to the Slave River Journal of Fort Smith, N.W.T., in July 2006 the company sailed a barge and a tug — the NT Marjory — from Hay River, N.W.T., to Fort Mackay, Alta.

At the junction of the historic portage around four sets of rapids, the 150,000-ton barge came out of the water and completed the 40-kilometre trek along the old route in less than two hours. The tug went overland too, proving the viability of the operation.

Obstacles remain, with one aboriginal band owning the land at the north end of the portage, at Bell Rock, N.W.T., and a different group at the other end at Fort Fitzgerald, Alta.

Companies wishing to cross would have to negotiate access with both groups.

Another scenario could see river traffic loaded onto huge trucks at Hay River and then trucked south into Alberta and across to Fort Mcmurray.

If they wait for winter, perhaps the loads can be moved on the ice road that connects this remote part of northeastern Alberta to the oilsands region.

Alberta’s only seaport may not be on salt water, and it may be farther away than Vancouver. But as the tug Marjory and its big barge proved in 2006, it is possible to connect this remote northern region of the province with any part of the shipping world.