Century Iron Mines appoints logistics development executive as it builds out iron ore operations

Century Iron Mines Corp. (TSE:FER) has snapped up engineer Robert E. Girardin, appointing him as the new logistics development executive. 

Girardin, a graduate of Laval University, brings 21 years worth of experience in mining across the Labrador Trough area.

In his new role, he will lead logistics operations and help withCentury Iron's development and implementation of mining exploration plans, as it moves to bring major iron ore bodies into production within five years and beyond. 

Girardin is one of the few mechanical engineers who has managed both railway and shipping logistics in the Labrador Trough area, Century Iron said. 

He will report directly to Hubert Vallee, senior vice president of logistics, mine development and operations. 

Girardin will focus on helping Vallee build logistics solutions for Century's Labrador Trough as well as Duncan Lake projects. 

Recently, he was general manager of Business Improvement Eastern Canada, and comes to Century from Cliffs Canada, formerlyConsolidated Thompson Iron Mines.

While general manager at Business Improvement Eastern Canada, Girardin was responsible for implementing iron ore stability and buffer management strategies. 

Additionally, he helped increase lay down capacity and worked to improve shipping efficiency at Cliff's Pointe Noire facilities.

In 2006, he became manager of production planning and continuous improvement at QNS&L Railway, where he was responsible for strategic planning for product delivery division at IOC, Iron Ore Company of Canada.

"Robert Girardin is a seasoned logistics professional with valuable extensive new-build and operating experience with iron ore operations in the Labrador Trough," chief executive Sandy Chim said in a statement.

"Robert will bring to our mining and development team an essential component of expertise that will enhance our core competence of success."

Century Iron Mines is Canada's largest holder of iron ore land claims, with interests in several properties in the Provinces of Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Duncan Lake project, in which the company has a 51 per cent stake and an option to boost its interest to 65 per cent, is found in Matagami, Quebec and holds six blocks.

Its Attikamagen project, which rests in Schefferville, Quebec, covers 31,000 hectares. Century has a 60 per cent stake in the property and a joint venture deal with Champion Minerals.

On Wednesday, the company unveiled recent drill results from its Full Moon prospect on the Rainy Lake area of its Sunny Lake iron ore project in Quebec, showing "substantial resource tonnage" support. 

Highlights of recent results from the Full Moon prospect include 277.8 metres of taconite iron mineralization grading 28.77% total iron in hole RL12-0103, and 230.4 metres of taconite iron grading 29.82% total iron in hole RL12-0804.

The Sunny Lake property was acquired in 2009 by staking, and hosts 494 mineral claims, covering around 24,000 hectares. The project, which is 100 percent owned by Century, consists of two separate areas - Lac Le Fer and Rainy Lake - with both areas being at an early stage of exploration and having no defined resources.