Ferry service between Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Iqaluit on the horizon

The head of a Labrador shipping company saysconfirmation that a deep sea port will be built in Iqaluit means it's time to start planning for a ferry service between the Nunavut capital and Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

• Iqaluit port could open by 2020, government officials say

"We're looking at shipping perishables, we're looking at shipping frozen goods, construction materials, a lot of things that are currently being flown," Peter Woodward, president of the Woodward Group of Companies, told CBC News.

"This is an opportunity for efficiency,it's an opportunity to reduce government expenditures, make lives much easier to live in northern locations. This is a win-win."

$64 million infederal funding for the portwas confirmedin January, with expectations it could open by 2020.

Fresh milk and fruits

Woodward envisions perishables being trucked into Happy Valley-Goose Bayfrom hubs like Montreal and Toronto, with ships waiting to carry those goods on to the Arctic.

"We can basically have it in Goose Bay in twodays, in Iqaluit in another threedays.So we're far within the shelf life of a lot of the goods," said Woodward, adding goods loaded in central Canada would be untouched until they reached the north.

"The amount of damages, the costs, all those things are reduced significantly."

Currently, Woodward saidgoods arriving by boat to Iqaluitcan take about a week tounload,using cranes and forklifts at high tide.

"It's a very rudimentary system," said Woodward, addingthe deep water port will allow for roll-on, roll-off traffic with goods unloaded in about four hours.

Passenger service

Woodwardis also looking at transporting passengers and their vehicles alongside freight.

"Someone in Iqaluit can decide to go on their vacation, and be able to access the service and get off with their truck or their vehicle in Goose Bay,and go on their vacation within three days," said Woodward.

"They won't have to rent vehicles, they can do their shopping while they're awayon vacation and bring things back."

This is a win-win.- Peter Woodward

He estimates the port in Happy Valley-Goose Bay is under-utilized, with room for about 75 per cent more traffic.

"We could actually be the port of call for the eastern Arctic."