Too Cold to Load Potatoes in Canada
Summerside, PE-
By ANUK Staff
1.25.13
The Bosse, a Barbadian transport ship is docked at the port of Summerside, located in Prince Edward Island, Canada, biding its time until temperatures are warm enough to take on a load of potatoes.
The 9,032 ton South American-bound vessel has been waiting in port since Jan. 17.
David Bellefontaine, spokesman for the Summerside Port Authority, said on Wednesday that the vessel will likely remain docked until at least the end of the month.
The cold can cause the potatoes to bruise or freeze, he said, which could mean the buyer refusing to take possession once they reach their destination.
It’s just not worth the risk to load the product until workers get several hours with temperatures above -10 Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit), said Bellefontaine.
Once the Bosse is loaded and departs, it’s unlikely any more potato ships will arrive in port for another couple of months, as ships traditionally don’t arrive mid-winter.
