Expansion set for Prince Rupert Terminal

Written by Kyra Senese, Managing Editor, Railway Track & Structures
Port of Prince Rupert terminal

Photo: Port of Prince Rupert

A major West Coast terminal is set to again boost capacity by nearly 800,000 TEUs.

The Port of Prince Rupert and DP World have agreed on terms of a project development plan detailing the DP World Prince Rupert Fairview Container Terminal’s next phase of expansion.

The Phase 2B expansion will add to its annual throughput capacity at Canada’s second largest container terminal to 1.8 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) when the project is completed in 2022.

“Together with our supply chain partners, this expansion, combined with CN’s investments in B.C. and across its rail network, positions us to drive this unique trade gateway success story forward,” said CN Interim President and CEO JJ Ruest.

DP World Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, noted that Canada is an important part of the global network, and DP World Group is excited to confirm the upcoming plans.

“Prince Rupert…plays a major role in enabling trade in the region and across the west coast with rail connections inland to the rest of the country and the United States,” Bin Sulayem said. “It also demonstrates the excellent relationships built with the Port Authority and the confidence we both share in the future and the creation of jobs in the community, stimulating the local and regional economy. I would like to thank all our partners and people at Prince Rupert for their commitment and ongoing support.”

The Fairview Phase 2B project follows the completion in 2017 of Fairview Phase 2A, which boosted the terminal capacity by 500,000 TEUs to its current capacity of 1.35 million TEUs, officials said.

Construction on Phase 2B is set to kickoff in mid-2019. Officials said an initial gradual release of capacity to 1.6 million TEUs will take place in 2020, following the expansion of the container yard to the south.

“The execution of this agreement signifies DP World’s commitment to enabling Canadian trade with another significant investment that will bring a total of one million additional TEUs of container capacity to the Port of Prince Rupert in less than five years,” Port of Prince Rupert Chair Bud Smith said. “This project will provide critical trade-enabling infrastructure for Canada’s west coast, a timely response to forecasted growth in trans-Pacific trade and supportive of Canada’s efforts to diversify markets through new free trade agreements such as the CPTPP.”

The project is set to expand the container yard from its current 32 hectares (79 acres) to 41 hectares (101.3 acres) and add two new rubber-tired gantry (RTG) cranes in addition to an eighth dock gantry crane.

The existing maintenance and administration buildings will be relocated to allow for additional container storage capacity, as well.

The company said the expansion and relocation of the truck gate to the south end of the terminal, where it will link with the Fairview–Ridley Connector project being advanced by the Port of Prince Rupert, is also expected to enhance efficiency.

The Phase 2B project will expand on-dock rail capacity by adding 6,680 feet of working track, facilitating a total of 24,680 feet of on-dock rail by 2022.

The project is expected to have a significant economic impact on Prince Rupert and the surrounding area by creating about 300 additional full-time equivalent positions at Fairview Container Terminal, as well, officials said.

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