Located 40 Km west of Bathurst, New Brunswick, the Port of Belledune is considered a world-class deep water port. Pictured here: The Atlantic T


MARINE WAVE 15 eak and the Atlantic Hemlock on-site at the facility.


PORT OF BELLEDUNE Serving New Brunswick’s Deep-Water Facilities


Opened in 1968, the Port of Belledune is located in Chaleur Bay, 40 km west of Bathurst, New Brunswick, and is considered a world-class deep-water port. Its original purpose was to address the shipping needs of what was then the Noranda Smelter (Glencore). Since its creation, the port has grown from a single terminal to a four terminal facility. It has become one of the foundations of the local economy and provides both direct and indirect employment for residents.


Because of its location, the port offers some of the shortest shipping routes between different points in Europe and North America. By ground, the port is also located near railways and roads, allowing for fast and efficient transport to and from the facility.


Initially, the port received and shipped iron ore, lead and zinc concentrate. Today, the port continues to receive coal from Columbia that is used to power the New Brunswick Power Plant, and also receives and ships many other commodities. The port now receives wood chips that are shipped to Turkey and wood pellets that are used to provide power to plants located in Europe. Perlite, a natural product used in potting soil, is also shipped to the port, as is salt, which is then transported to the cities of Bathurst, Campbellton, and their surrounding areas for road safety in winter months.


In 1999, Atlantic Towing purchased the tug, Eddie Mac I (now called the Atlantic Aspen) and its docking rights from Belledune Marine, a father-and-son owned and operated company.


Colin Maclean, who previously owned the tug and its operations with his father, along with Ivan Jenkins, and Todd Dempsey all transitioned to Atlantic Towing at the time of purchase.


At one time, Atlantic Towing also assisted with operations at the Port of Dalhousie, which is a 2.5 hour sail from the Belledune Port. Although they still work at the Dalhousie location on occasion, traffic at the port decreased dramatically with the closures of the Abitibi-Bowater Paper Mill in 2010 and the Dalhousie Generating Station in 2012.


Many mariners working at the port commute from several different locations. A typical day involves managing the ‘moves’ of in-and- outbound traffic, and regular maintenance on the vessels.


“The number of moves we perform in a day largely depends on price commodities, which is determined by the market,” says Ivan Jenkins, Captain of the Atlantic Hemlock. “We are having a great year this year.”


“The port has a great business acquisition team that are always looking for new opportunities in the market,” says Todd Dempsey, relief Captain with the Atlantic Aspen. “It is expected that the port will continue to grow, as the demand for the commodities that come in and out of the facility increases.”


Nearly seven years ago, the Port of Belledune underwent a $35 million refit, which included an additional terminal, a roll-on/ roll-off dock, an extension to one of the terminals, and an office expansion.


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