Redwood City Sees Big Increase

By Karen Robes Meeks

In the first six months of its fiscal year, the Port of Redwood City saw 41 percent more cargo moving across its docks compared to the same period a year ago, handling a record 1.2-million metric ton between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2017.

The region’s construction boom is pushing the demand, with building materials arriving mostly from British Columbia to the port, according to Port Executive Director Mike Giari.

The port is projected to surpass its record tonnage from fiscal year 2005, when it moved over 1.9 million metric tons.

The number of ships that called at the port was up as well, from 49 to 79, during the same six-month period.

Canadian Provinces Ink Maritime Training Deal

By Mark Edward Nero

On Jan. 13, the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Nova Scotia signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening workforce cooperation, including innovation and training in the shipbuilding and industrial marine industries.

The two provinces said in an announcement that the agreement positions them to work together “to innovate trades training in the shipbuilding and industrial marine industries, improving outcomes for apprentices and the sector overall.”

Under the deal, British Columbia and Nova Scotia are expected to share labor market information such as workforce demand projections, initiatives to support sector-based workforce planning and best practices in labor market data analysis.

“Shipbuilding and marine industries are important to the economies of both our coastal provinces,” British Columbia Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training Shirley Bond said in a statement announcing the agreement. “We will continue to work with government and industry partners to align and improve apprenticeship training across Canada.”

“We share a strong shipbuilding industry,” added Karen Casey, Nova Scotia’s acting Minister of Labor and Advanced Education. “We need to take advantage of this and work together to help grow our two provinces’ economies. This partnership helps our businesses to build their export capacity and take full advantage of spin-off opportunities coming out of the industry.”

Key commitments identified in the MOU include: sharing and leveraging best practices in trades training, including the evaluation of training models in the shipbuilding and industrial marine industries; and assessing and evaluating the training delivery models for marine sector trades training and jointly develop and implement identified new models as appropriate in the shipbuilding and industrial marine industries.

The agreement also calls for promoting youth participation in trades training in the shipbuilding and industrial marine industries.

Deltaport’s Third Berth Officially Opens for Business.

On Monday the new C$400-million third berth at British Columbia’s Deltaport container terminal officially opened for business.

The major infrastructure project, which took two years to construct, increases Deltaport’s capacity by up to 50 per cent, and creates 356 new jobs.

“Every container that lands at the port generates approximately C$2,200 in economic output,” says Michael Moore, President and CEO of Global Container Terminals.

Construction of the new berth began in January 2007 and was completed in December 2009. The shared infrastructure investment was completed on budget and on time by port Metro Vancouver and Global Container Terminals, and created 640 “man-years” of employment during construction.

“Over the next ten years, container traffic through the West Coast is expected to double,” says Robin Silvester, President and CEO, Port Metro Vancouver. “The new berth at Deltaport is part of a long-term plan to strengthen Canada’s Pacific Gateway and ensure our ability to accommodate the growth in container trade, in particular with Pacific Rim economies like China.”