| Moosonee Transportation Limited, known as
MTL in the James Bay and Hudson Bay area was originally Hudson Bay
Company Transport. MTL has a long history of sailing in the Hudson and
James Bay waters. In 1974, Fednav and Crowley Maritime through their
associated company Arctic Transportation Limited purchased Hudson Bay
Transport and all of its assets from the Hudson Bay Company, now the
North West Company. At time of its acquisition, ATL renamed the company
Moosonee Transportation Company. In the late 1980's, the Crees of
James Bay assessed ATL's operational objectives, and its proposed
services, and it was learned that the needs of the James Bay communities
cannot be properly met. It was determined that the services and sailing
schedule proposed would not be appropriate and beneficial for the
coastal communities.
The Waskaganish First Nation, from Quebec and James Bay Travel
Limited, an established private locally owned business that specialized
in marine transportation, haulage, and winter road construction, pursued
a joint business venture to provide a tug and barge transportation
service to service the needs of the James Bay and Hudson Bay coastal
communities.
During the establishing process of the new business venture, James
Bay Travel and the Waskagnish First Nations was offered the purchase of
ATL. The preference of the new jointly owned business was to purchase
all the shares and assets of ATL.
After some financial groundwork to acquire all the shares and assets
of ATL, James Bay Travel and the Waskaganish First Nation finalized the
purchase. Operations commenced in the summer season of 1989 of Moosonee
Transportation Limited.
The voyages out of Moosonee went from previous season highs of 14 to
38 trips. It has gone up in numbers continually, and each year, there
are as many as 56 trips in one season. MTL has and is still doing very
well. |