NEAS starts 2009 Arctic service

NEAS starts 2009 Arctic service    Ocean carrier Nunavut Eastern Arctic Shipping has begun its 2009 Arctic service.
   'Beginning this season, NEAS will run a new route through the Northwest Passage and deliver significant savings for the people of the Kitikmeot region,' said David Ell, the company's director of marketing.
   NEAS's Inuit-owned vessels, including the Avataq, Qamutik and Umiavut, will navigate the Northwest Passage from the Eastern Arctic to service Western Arctic communities, such as Cambridge Bay, Kugluktuk, Taloyoak, and Gjoa Haven.
   'With our new Northwest Passage route we will deliver significant savings for the Kitikmeot region and with our new through rate from Winnipeg, Kivalliq customers will also benefit from savings,' said Paul Ghaleb, vice president of sales, in a statement.
   NEAS is a Nunavut Inuit majority-owned company whose shareholders are Sakku Investments Corp., Qikiqtaaluk Corp., Makivik Corp., and Transport Nanuk.