Estonia, Port, Transport

This was the third year Botnica was providing escort service as an ice monitoring vessel to Panamax class freighters in the waters of northern Canada. Ulo Eero, chairman of the management board of TS Shipping, a subsidiary of the listed Estonian port company Tallinna Sadam, said that Botnica's work in Canada this year was marred by the spread of the coronavirus.

"The vessel's period of work was somewhat shorter than planned and the crew change was held under extraordinary circumstances in Greenland instead of Canada," Eero said. "Ice conditions were lighter in the Canadian Arctic than in the previous two years, but the risk of running into numerous icebergs drifting towards the South from the North, likely as a result of global warming, had increased."

The 6,800-kilometer home journey from Canada to Estonia fell into the period of storms in the Atlantic Ocean.

"We would like to thank the captain and the crew for bringing to Tallinn both an undamaged vessel and a healthy crew," he added.

Botnica is to remain berthed in Tallinn Old City Harbor. The vessel is to embark on its next scheduled journey to the Canadian Arctic in June next year. In accordance with an agreement concluded with the Maritime Administration, Botnica will provide icebreaking services in Estonian coastal waters during the winter period from December to April. 

The charter agreement with the Canadian partner, Baffinland Iron Mines LP, is valid until 2022, but is subject to re-endorsement by the partner for each new year.

Baffinland Iron Mines LP is a Canadian mining company involved in the extraction of iron ore on Baffin Island in northern Canada.

Botnica is operated by OU TS Shipping, a subsidiary of AS Tallinna Sadam.