Commercial freighter transits Northwest Passage unaided

Last weeka ship called the M-V Nunavik became one of the first commercial ships to complete the Northwest Passagewithout the help of an icebreaker.

The Nunavik is a massive, ice-breaking cargo ship.

It left Deception Bay in northern Quebec on Sept.19...carrying a load of nickel concentrate.

The ship is currently on the Pacific Ocean,between Russia and Alaska.

Tim Keane is manager of arctic operations for FedNav, the company thatowns the Nunavik.

"Having the ability to do it with such a stout and robust ship, that's capable of independent operations, and performing the passage unescorted in such a timely and efficient way is quite significacnt.

Keane says the Nunavik is scheduled to arrive in China on Oct.14.