The Lax Kw'alaams and Metlakatla bands announced today a joint venture that will see the creation of Coast Tsimshian Marine Services LP, a joint venture company that comes following an agreement with Island Tug and Barge Ltd. of Vancouver.
The company will provide tug and marine services, including barging, fuel supply and salvage operations up and down the coast from Port Hardy to Alaska.
"We are extremely pleased to be joining with Island Tug and Barge, which will allow us to continue to bring skills and employment opportunities to my People…This is just a first of many progressive steps we are taking to build opportunity in the Prince Rupert area, which will be good for everyone,” said Lax Kw’alaams chief Garry Reece.
“We very much appreciate the opportunity to work with such a progressive company that will see us build new opportunities for our communities…This is just the first and we are open for business,” added Metlakatla chief Harold Leighton.
The new joint venture will create up to 5 new positions and over the next couple of months the organization and marine equipment will be put in place to allow the company to begin to provide services
“This will create new opportunity for all of us, and we are very excited about being asked to be a part of the growth that we see coming to the Prince Rupert area as a result of the progressive work of the Coast Tsimshian and others,” said John Lindsay, Vice president of Corporate Development for Island Tug and Barge.