Port Metro Vancouver Renamed

By Mark Edward Nero

Canada’s largest port has a new name. The title “Port Metro Vancouver” was dropped on April 6 and replaced by “Port of Vancouver.”

The name change, according to the port, is intended to strengthen the port’s recognition with stakeholders and customers as well as provide clarity and distinction between the activities of the port authority and those of the greater port community.

The port says that feedback and research indicated the use of “Port Metro Vancouver” to refer to the port and the federal port authority created confusion. Internationally, the port is already widely referenced as the Port of Vancouver.

However, there’s already another Port of Vancouver: the deepwater port in Vancouver, Washington. That facility however, refers to itself as the Port of Vancouver USA, in order to avoid confusion with its much larger neighbor, located about 300 miles to the north.

In addition to the port being renamed, the port’s governing body is implementing the consistent use of its legal name, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, when referencing its activities or decisions.

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority was formed in 2008 when three regional port authorities – the Port of Vancouver, North Fraser Port Authority and Fraser River Port Authority -- were amalgamated.

Port Metro Vancouver Annual Volumes Steady

By Mark Edward Nero

Newly released 2015 year-end statistics from Canada’s largest seaport, Port Metro Vancouver, show that overall volumes remained steady at 138 million tons of cargo last year, as sectors experiencing declines were offset by others that hit new records.

Data released Feb. 18 show there was a five percent jump in volume for a new record of 3.1 million TEUs. Cargo shipped in containers at the port showed substantial growth due to increased trade with Asia.

Also according to the data, this is the port’s third consecutive year of strong cargo volumes, with new records set in the container, potash, grain and agri-product sectors.

Grain and agri-product exports increased by eight percent over 2014 to 25.1 million metric tons, and potash exports were 8.7 million metric tons, up 15.6 percent from the prior year.

“These strong and consistent cargo volumes through Port Metro Vancouver demonstrate the diversification of the port and the Canadian economy,” Port Metro Vancouver President and CEO Robin Silvester said in a written statement.

The port’s volumes of bulk specialty crops – lentils and pulses – reached 3.5 million metric tons last year, an increase of 20 percent, with growth in exports to India and China.

There was a decline in breakbulk metal imports (construction steel and fabricated components) during the second half of 2015, but with volumes of 1.4 million metric tons, 2015 remained the second highest year for metals on record.

Foreign forest product exports (logs, lumber, woodchips, woodpulp) ended the year at 10.9 million metric tons, a slight decrease from 2014. Coal volumes were down eight percent, mainly due to reduced demand from China and lower thermal coal exports from the United States.

Port Metro Vancouver is North America’s third busiest seaport, after the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach.

Port Metro Vancouver Shows Mid-Year Growth

By Mark Edward Nero

Port Metro Vancouver, Canada’s largest port, is seeing continued growth in trade through the Pacific Gateway, according to recently released mid-year statistical data.

Total cargo was 70.3 million metric tons, an increase of 1.5 percent over the same six months in 2014 according to the data, which was released Aug. 18.

Increases in wheat, sulphur, potash, lumber and consumer goods boosted results according to the data, while declines were registered in coal and petroleum products. Movement of breakbulk (8.38 million tons) rose two percent from last year to this one.

Trade using containers showed substantial growth, with an eight percent jump in the number of TEUs.

Continued growth in container numbers on the West Coast of Canada has been projected for some time, but this higher-than-expected jump is likely due to the impact of US cargo diverted to Vancouver earlier this year in response to labor unrest at US West Coast ports, and deflated results last year due to a 28-day Vancouver trucking dispute in March 2014.

“We are seeing continued growth of trade through Port Metro Vancouver as Canadian demand for foreign products and international demand for Canadian resources continue to increase,” President and Port Metro Vancouver Chief Executive Officer Robin Silvester said. “Our … overall cargo grew in the first half of 2015 despite some softening markets and global economic uncertainty.”

Auto volumes in the first half of 2015 were up seven percent according to port data, with 212,266 units moved during the first half of 2015. Also, The port projects its 2015 cruise season to be on par with previous years, with an estimated 805,000 passengers on 228 visits by 32 vessels.

Port Metro Vancouver Installing More Shoreside Power

By Mark Edward Nero

The Canadian government has approved funding for the installation of shore power facilities for container vessels at two Port Metro Vancouver container terminals, the port revealed during a July 22 announcement.

“We are proud to be investing in shore power at Port Metro Vancouver’s Centerm and Deltaport container terminals,” Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Canada’s Minister of National Revenue, said. “Federal initiatives such as the Shore Power Technology for Ports Program will not only help the environment and improve our health, but will also position British Columbia’s trade sectors to take advantage of growth opportunities, increase revenues and create jobs.”

Shore power reduces port emissions by allowing vessels to draw power from the local electrical grid and thereby turn off their diesel engines while at berth. Port Metro Vancouver was the first port in Canada to implement shore power for cruise ships, and since 2009 more than 11,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions have been avoided, according to the port.

The total project funding is $12 million: $6 million from Transport Canada’s Shore Power Technology for Ports Program and $6 million from Port Metro Vancouver.

Additionally, $4.97 million – $2.485 million from Transport Canada, $2.485 million from Port Metro Vancouver – is to be used to install shore power technology at a berth at Global Container Terminal’s Deltaport terminal in Delta, B.C.

Also, another $7.3 million – $3.8 million from Port Metro Vancouver, $3.5 million from Transport Canada – is earmarked for the installation of shore power technology at a berth at DP World Vancouver’s Centerm Container terminal in Vancouver and necessary upgrades on nearby BC Hydro property.

Each ship connection to shore power is estimated to avoid greenhouse gas emissions of 75 tons. Both shore power operations are expected to be operational by March 31, 2017.

Vancouver Cruise Terminal Kiosks Automated

By Mark Edward Nero

Port Metro Vancouver has unveiled a first: 10 automated passport control kiosks at the Canada Place Cruise Terminal aimed at increasing cruise passenger processing rates through the US Customs area prior to embarking on a cruise from Canada to Alaska. “With this launch, Port Metro Vancouver’s cruise terminal has become the first worldwide to utilize automated passport control technology for US bound passengers,” Peter Xotta, Port Metro Vancouver’s vice president of planning and operations said.

Eligible passengers include US and Canadian passport holders and US permanent residents. The service is available without pre-registration and at no cost to the user.

Travellers can proceed directly to a self-service kiosk in the United States Customs and Border Protection processing area at Port Metro Vancouver, follow the on-screen instructions to scan their passport and answer customs declaration questions, then receive a receipt confirming their information and continue to a US Customs officer to finalize processing.

With this increased efficiency, cruise passengers leaving from Port Metro Vancouver are expected to experience shorter wait times, less congestion and faster customs processing times.

“US Customs and Border Protection continues to assess and adjust its processes where appropriate and collaboratively work with the tourism industry,” US Customs and Border Protection Deputy Director, Kurry Pastilong said. “The recent evolution of APC for cruise ship passengers is just one more way that the agency is striving to ease the flow of passengers without sacrificing core mission requirements.”

Metro Vancouver Plans New Container Terminal

By Mark Edward Nero

Port Metro Vancouver, Canada’s largest seaport, has filed an Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed new container terminal at Roberts Bank in Delta, BC on Canada’s west coast.

The new Roberts Bank Terminal 2, along with expansion of the Port of Prince Rupert and other container terminals in Vancouver, would provide needed space for growth, according to the port. Forecasts have shown that demand for goods shipped in containers is growing and it’s expected container terminals on B.C.’s coast will be at capacity by the early 2020s.

“The region is running out of room to manage growing Canadian trade with Asia,” Robin Silvester, President and Chief Executive Officer of Port Metro Vancouver said in a statement. “The Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project will ensure demand can be met while providing important economic benefits to B.C. and Canada. We look forward to the upcoming review of our environmental assessment by an independent panel.”

The Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project would provide 2.4 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of container capacity to meet forecasted growth in Canadian export and import trade. It has three main components:

• Development of land and construction of a deep-sea marine terminal adjacent to the existing Roberts Bank terminals

• Widening of the existing Roberts Bank causeway to accommodate road and rail infrastructure and

• Expansion of the existing Roberts Bank tug basin to accommodate the existing and an additional tug boat contractor.

The Environmental Impact Statement documents four years of scientific study and consultation with regulators, Aboriginal groups, local government and the public to assess the potential environmental, economic, social, heritage and health effects of the terminal’s construction and operation. The conclusion: effects of the project, following the implementation of mitigation, are not expected to significantly affect the environment.

The EIS now becomes the subject of a federal environmental assessment, including a review by an independent review panel, and includes multiple opportunities for public comment.

Construction could begin in 2018 and would take about five-and-a-half years to complete, according to the port. The project would be funded entirely by Port Metro Vancouver and the private sector and would require no tax dollars. The construction phase will create 12,700 person-years of employment, and its operation would support approximately 12,400 full-time jobs on an ongoing basis.

Port Metro Vancouver Experiences Chemical Fire

By Mark Edward Nero

A shipping container caught fire at Canada’s largest port on the afternoon of March 4, resulting in an evacuation of the area due to dangerous, potentially toxic fumes. More than a dozen people were hospitalized due to smoke inhalation.

Port Metro Vancouver says it received reports of the container fire about 1:40 pm Wednesday at the Centerm Container Terminal, located on the south shore of Burrard Inlet. Vancouver Coastal Health later confirmed the material inside was a hazardous organic compound - trichloroisocyanuric acid - a possible eye and skin irritant that is commonly used to chlorinate pools.

The chemical, according to Vancouver fire Chief Dan Wood, is an oxidizer, meaning it produces oxygen that adds to a fire. Although the four-alarm blaze was confined to a single shipping container, it forced the shutdown of much of the port as well an advisory for those living east of the area to stay indoors with their windows closed due to the smoke and potential for release of toxic substances into the air.

At least 10 fire trucks and more than two dozen firefighters responded to the blaze and a pair of fire boats were also battled the blaze from the north end of a pier.

The Centerm terminal and nearby port properties were evacuated for about four hours during the incident, and all port operations along the south shore of Burrard Inlet shut down, including rail and truck access.

Thirteen people were hospitalized at two local hospitals for smoke inhalation, according to the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, but were released within hours.

Port Metro Vancouver Breaks Annual Cargo Record

By Mark Edward Nero

Port Metro Vancouver, Canada’s largest seaport, had record-breaking cargo volumes in 2014, marking the second straight year it broke its own annual volume record, according to 

newly released data.

Port terminals saw 2.9 million TEUs during calendar year 2014, compared to 2.8 million in 2013 and 2.7 million in 2012.

Annual bulk volumes increased by 5.3 percent over 2013, according to the port, with substantial increases in grain exports, plus strong international demand spurring an 18-percent jump in exports of wheat and 31-percent increase for canola. Also, bulk coal volumes remained strong as volumes increased in several emerging markets from more traditional markets. Bulk potash reached a new record of 7.5 million tons, a 14-percent rise from the previous year.

Additionally, container volumes continued to grow, with a 3.1-percent increase over 2013, despite reduced volumes in the month of March due to a container trucking dispute.

The port’s terminals handled 140 million tons of cargo in 2014, up three percent from 2013. Import cargo rose 4.1 percent to 29 million tons, and exports rose 3.3 percent to 111 million tons.

Robin Silvester, the port’s president and chief executive officer said in a statement that the record year for cargo volumes illustrates “the demands created by a growing Canadian economy and increasing international desire for Canadian trade.”

The news wasn’t all good, however: auto volumes at Metro Vancouver declined in 2014 largely due to a shift in vehicle production from Asia to North America. Breakbulk volumes also fell slightly due to a decrease in log exports. Cruise passenger numbers remained strong, however; Port Metro Vancouver saw 812,095 passengers throughout the 2014 season, virtually the same number as the year before.

Port Metro Vancouver, which handles 19 percent of the value of Canada’s total trade in goods, is the third-largest North American port, after those in Los Angeles and Long Beach. By comparison, the Port of Los Angeles saw 8.3 million TEUs last year, and the Port of Long Beach 6.8 million, more than double Metro Vancouver’s 2.9 million TEUs.

Metro Vancouver CEO Warns of Industrial Land Shortage

By Mark Edward Nero

Port Metro Vancouver President and Chief Executive Officer Robin Silvester is calling for the creation of an industrial land reserve, saying that the issue of a shrinking industrial land base in Metro Vancouver poses a serious threat to the local and national economies.

“Metro Vancouver currently has a supply of industrial land that is sufficient to meet demand for up to 15 years at most,” Silvester said during a Nov. 28 speech to the Vancouver Board of Trade. “If we don’t act now, we will face a serious and imminent shortage with significant consequences.”

Studies indicate that 2,300 additional acres of industrial land will be needed in the gateway by 2025 to meet increasing cargo demand.

On the same day Silvester addressed the trade board, Port Metro Vancouver released its updated Land Use Plan, a key priority of which is to protect the remaining supply of industrial land within Port Metro Vancouver jurisdiction. The plan is similar to a municipal official community plan and identifies the types of uses that are appropriate throughout the port, a jurisdiction that borders 16 municipalities.

“This is an important document,” Peter Xotta, the port’s Vice President of Planning and Operations, said. “It sets out how Port Metro Vancouver will manage the land in our jurisdiction over the next 15 to 20 years, in response to growth in Canada’s trade.”

The plan, which took nearly three years to devise, was developed in consultation with more than 1,000 people representing municipalities, government agencies, environmental organizations, businesses, industries, and members of the public.

The document, among other things, illustrates Port Metro Vancouver’s ability to accommodate future growth in a socially, environmentally and economically sustainable manner. More information about the plan is available at http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/en/projects/LandUsePlan/FAQs.aspx

Metro Vancouver Completes Overpass Project

By Mark Edward Nero

Port Metro Vancouver on Oct. 24 celebrated the completion of the new Roberts Bank Causeway Overpass, a major infrastructure project that is expected to improve container handling capacity at Canada’s largest container terminal.

The project is expected to improve the efficiency of the Roberts Bank Rail Corridor, which serves the Deltaport Container Terminal in Delta, British Columbia. Deltaport handles 50 percent of the containerized cargo that moves through Canada’s West Coast.

The overpass, which is also expected to increase rail capacity and enhance the safety and fluidity of traffic to and from the terminal, involved the construction of a two-lane overpass to provide grade separation between rail tracks and the Roberts Bank Causeway access road adjacent to the terminal.

The separation of road and rail traffic will improve safety for transportation operators involved in the movement of goods for international trade, according to the port, and also significantly improve the fluidity of inbound and outbound containers, plus contribute to additional capacity at the terminal, roughly 150,000 to 200,000 new 20-foot equivalent units annually.

The overpass project, which began construction in early 2013, is an element of the Deltaport Terminal Road and Rail Improvement Project, a plan developed by the port to reduce delays and inefficiencies in rail and truck operations and to increase cargo-handling capacity at Deltaport.

“The Deltaport Terminal, Road and Rail Improvement Project at Roberts Bank is increasing the efficiency of the Deltaport terminal so that it can better handle growing demand for container trade to and from Asia,” Port Metro Vancouver President & CEO Robin Silvester explained. “This portion of the project is eliminating delays and congestion for truckers and increasing rail capacity by providing a roadway over rail lines on the Roberts Bank causeway.”

The total cost of the project was $44.7 million: Port Metro Vancouver contributed $24.8 million, while the federal government pitched in $19.9 million.

Metro Vancouver Incentive Program Wins Award

By Mark Edward Nero

Port Metro Vancouver, Canada’s largest seaport, has won an award for its “Container Vessel On Time Performance Incentive Program,” which rewards container vessel operators that arrive within eight hours of their berth window start.

The incentive program took home the “Forwarders Celebrating Associates” award for Excellence in Innovation on Sept. 26 during the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association’s annual awards program, which this year focused on industry’s contribution to the marine community.

Port Metro Vancouver’s Container Vessel On Time Performance Incentive Program, through a combination of transparency reporting and wharfage reductions, recognizes container vessel operators that arrive within eight hours of their berth window start, which contributes to overall supply chain consistency. In 2013, the program resulted in a ten-percent increase in vessel on time performance on aggregate, according to the port.

In 2013, five shipping lines achieved an on-time performance of more than 85 percent of their annual Metro Vancouver vessel calls: APL, CMA CGM, Maersk Line, Mitsui OSK Line and OOCL. The Vessel On Time program paid out $2.8 million in wharfage reductions to ten qualifying carriers in 2013.

“The noticeable increase in operational efficiency speaks to the success of the program and the willingness of our carriers to cooperate with other supply chain partners and service providers,” Peter Xotta, Port Metro Vancouver’s vice president of planning and operations said. “This award belongs to all of us.”

Port Metro Vancouver Launches New Support Vessels

By Mark Edward Nero

Port Metro Vancouver on Sept. 9 unveiled two new patrol vessels, as well as other operations and security assets, expected to help maintain the safe, secure, efficient and reliable movement of marine traffic and cargo within Port Metro Vancouver’s jurisdiction.

The vessels, built by Campbell River’s Daigle Welding & Marine, are to provide marine surveillance, early incident detection and activity tracking. The new “response class” vessels specialize in fast response, and are equipped for rapid situational assessment. They each have 1,000 horsepower supplied by twin Volvo D9-500 diesel engines with ZF 265 IV transmissions.

Both vessels have an overall length of about 43 feet and weigh about 15 tons.

The latest additions complement Port Metro Vancouver’s operations center, which uses a variety of security and situational awareness technologies such as live camera feeds, controlled access gates and GPS tracking on all port-authorized container trucks.

“We are bolstering our presence on land and water,” Peter Xotta, Vice President of Operations and Planning at Port Metro Vancouver, said. “This helps ensure our operations and security teams are equipped with the most appropriate tools.”

Port Metro Vancouver, working with first responders, the local community and port stakeholders, including municipalities, regional emergency response organizations, police forces and federal agencies, maintains situational awareness and has a coordinating role within its jurisdiction of about 400 miles of shoreline. Responsibilities include marine patrols, ship inspections, permitting of operational activities and the development of marine safety rules and procedures.

Port Metro Vancouver Approves Coal Facility

By Mark Edward Nero

Port Metro Vancouver on August 21 approved a proposed direct coal transfer facility at the Fraser Surrey Docks marine terminal.

The decision came after a two-year project review process and including extra measures taken to assess any potential environmental and human health risks. In granting the permit, Port Metro Vancouver requires the terminal to meet a strict set of conditions to ensure environmental and safety standards.

“Through our comprehensive project review process, stakeholder consultation, as well as third-party validated environmental and health studies, it was determined there are no unacceptable risks and the project could be permitted,” Peter Xotta, Port Metro Vancouver’s Vice President of Planning and Operations said.

The $15 million project is expected to provide 25 direct and 25 indirect full-time jobs. Once constructed by Fraser Surrey Docks, the facility is expected to handle up to four million metric tons of coal annually that would be loaded onto barges at the facility and transferred to ocean-going carriers at Texada Island.

The coal is to arrive at Fraser Surrey Docks via rail, and it is expected the project will result in one additional train per day along the BNSF railroad. Coal is the most heavily traded commodity at Metro Vancouver; the quantity to be shipped from Fraser Surrey Docks would represent about 10 percent of total coal shipments, according to the port.

In September 2013, the port announced new requirements for the proposed project, including the prohibition of on-site storage of coal and requirements for barges to take additional measures to prevent coal dust escaping during transit to Texada Island.

The port also asked the terminal to work with its rail provider to address issues of potential coal dust from rail cars. In May, BNSF announced it was adding a re-spray of a dust suppressant agent to the train cars before they enter Canada.

Canadian Government to Fund Port Trucking Efficiency Measures

By Mark Edward Nero

Canadian Transportation Minister Lisa Raitt said June 12 that the Government of Canada is contributing $3 million to reduce trucker wait times by using new technologies to better link operations across Port Metro Vancouver’s four terminals.

“This federal funding demonstrates this government’s ongoing commitment to maintain long-term stability at Port Metro Vancouver,” Raitt said. “This project, and all the measures we’ve taken ... (are) helping to ensure the reliability of Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway.”

The government’s Common Data Interface (CDI) project is expected to help to better coordinate and schedule container truck movements by providing the technological capabilities to, among other things, collect data on gate and terminal activities, which would help to coordinate multi-shift operations.

The CDI project will also develop an enhanced common reservation system (i.e. a centralized appointment scheduler for container trucks), which is expected to reduce wait times and enhance efficiency of truck movements; and it will measure operational performance and enforcement through the collection of location data, via GPS technology, to help the port develop and enforce appropriate standards.

The project, which costs about $6 million, will receive $3 million over two years under Transport Canada’s Clean Transportation Initiative on Port-Related Trucking. The port ‘s contributing the other half.

The initiative is a product of the March 26 labor agreement between the governments of Canada and British Columbia, Port Metro Vancouver and members of the United Truckers Association and labor union Unifor.

The agreement, which brought about the end of a 28-day strike at the port by drayage truck drivers, resulted in a 15-point joint action plan agreed to by both sides that the port says will provide a framework for long-term stability in the container trucking industry.

Port Metro Vancouver Releases Sustainability, Financial Reports

By Mark Edward Nero

Port Metro Vancouver on June 3 released its fourth annual Sustainability Report and 2013 Financial Report. Both reports together cover the period of Jan. 1, 2013 to Dec. 31, 2013 and provide a summary of the port’s overall performance.

Among the things spotlighted in the 2013 Financial Report were Metro Vancouver’s commitment to financial self-sufficiency and the reinvestment of profits to improve port facilities, infrastructure, and services as well as to enhance environmental programs. Key accomplishments outlined in the report include:

Re-affirmation by Standard & Poor’s of the port’s AA credit rating, for the fourth consecutive year.

A 12 percent increase in overall consolidated revenue, from $189 million in 2012 to $212 million in 2013.

The purchase of the former Fraser Wharves auto terminal in Richmond for $56 million.

The completion of the South Shore Elevated Road Structure, on time and on budget.

The 2013 Sustainability Report, Metro Vancouver says, was designed to provide greater transparency and accountability in how Port Metro Vancouver conducts business, and to offer a platform for sharing performance and receiving feedback.

Key accomplishments outlined in the 2013 Sustainability Report include:

• Port Metro Vancouver completed 198 environmental reviews on proposed projects and activities to identify and mitigate effects on land, air and water.
• A 12 percent increase in participation in the port’s EcoAction program, which promotes emission reduction measures by offering discounted harbor rates to shipping lines.

Eighty-two cruise vessels successfully connected to shore power at Canada Place, enabling ships to shut off their diesel powered engines thereby reducing gas emissions by more than 3,000 tons.

Key topics discussed in the report include the industrial land shortage in the Lower Mainland; the movement of coal; noise in proximity to residential areas; trucking; tanker safety; and major port-related infrastructure projects.

The sustainability and financial reports are both available on the port’s website: http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/en/about/corporate/accountability.aspx.

Port Metro Vancouver Names Environmental Awardees

By Mark Edward Nero

On May 29, Port Metro Vancouver honored 13 shipping lines and three cruise lines with a Blue Circle Award for 2013. The award recognizes and rewards vessel operators for actions that reduce air emissions.

As part of Port Metro Vancouver’s EcoAction Program, shipping lines can benefit from a discount of up to 47 percent on harbor dues by choosing a variety of eligible fuels, technology options and environmental management practices. Vessels that qualify are eligible to receive the Blue Circle Award, a recognition reserved for the highest level of participation in the EcoAction Program.

“We are committed to balancing growing demand for trade with the need to protect our environment and maintain the quality of life of our neighbors,” Port Metro Vancouver President and CEO Robin Silvester said. “The Blue Circle Awards allow us to honor shipping lines for their environmental stewardship and commitment to cleaner air.”

The shipping lines that were recipients of 2013 Port Metro Vancouver Blue Circle Awards are:

APL; COSCO Canada; CMA CGM; Eukor Car Carriers; Grieg Star Shipping; Hapag-Lloyd AG; Hyundai Merchant Marine; “K” Line; Maersk Line; Mitsui OSK. Lines; Mediterranean Shipping Co.; Orient Overseas Container Line; and Westwood Shipping Lines.

The three cruise lines receiving the award were: Disney Cruise Line; Holland America Line; and Princess Cruises.

Port Metro Vancouver Planning Terminal Expansion

By Mark Edward Nero

Port Metro Vancouver says it will investigate design options to expand its Centerm container terminal to help address an anticipated shortfall in future container capacity.

Centerm, operated by Dubai-based marine terminal company DP World, is one of three primary container terminals located within Port Metro Vancouver, and handles about a fifth of the port’s annual container cargo.

In a May 16 statement regarding the matter, the port said design options will be determined over the next year, and that it is committed to a “fulsome consultative process with the community and other stakeholders” prior to finalizing the design for Centerm expansion.

The project, to be built in cooperation with DP World, is expected to cost at least $250 million, with construction proposed to begin in late 2016.

Trade to and from Canada, especially with Asia, is growing. Forecasts have shown that container traffic on Canada’s West Coast is expected to double over the next 10 to 15 years. The port says that even with new capacity at its Deltaport terminal and planned expansion in Prince Rupert, the ability to accommodate more containers on the west coast of Canada still needs to increase by the early 2020s.

As such, Port Metro Vancouver says it is actively pursuing options to maximize existing infrastructure and develop new capacity.

Metro Vancouver Opening Community Office

By Mark Edward Nero

Port Metro Vancouver said May 12 that it is opening a community office in the city of Delta this summer in order to give those in the area an opportunity to speak with staff about port operations, initiatives and projects, including the proposed Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project.

The Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project is a proposed new three-berth container terminal at Roberts Bank in Delta that would provide further capacity to potentially meet forecast demand until 2030.

“Many important port activities are taking place in Delta, and the new office will be a location where local community members can drop in to get information and provide input that will help Port Metro Vancouver balance growth demands with the need to protect our environment and respect the quality of life of our neighbors,” Port Metro Vancouver President and Chief Executive Officer Robin Silvester said in a statement announcing the office.

The office is expected to open in late July at the Trenant Park Shopping Center in Ladner and is planned to be open 10 am to 6 pm Wednesday to Friday and from 10 am to 4 pm Saturdays. The hours may be adjusted in the future based on community interest.

Delta Mayor Lois Jackson said she was “extremely pleased” that the port was opening an office in Ladner.

“Port related activities and growth are a major source of interest for our community,” she said. “With the upcoming environmental assessment process for the proposed Roberts Bank Terminal 2 expansion, this office will help to ensure timely and effective communications between Delta residents and Port Metro Vancouver.”

Port Metro Vancouver Expediting Truck GPS Program

By Mark Edward Nero

Port Metro Vancouver and the governments of Canada and British Columbia on May 2 announced joint funding of $1.71 million for an expedited initiative to outfit the remainder of the port’s container truck fleet with Global Positioning System (GPS) technology.

With the completion of the initiative, Port Metro Vancouver says it will be the only port in North America to have a full truck fleet using GPS-monitoring. The GPS technology is expected to provide a complete, accurate and real-time base of data enabling insight to routing and operational information to help manage congestion and wait times.

Under an existing GPS program, about half the trucks hauling goods to and from the port were outfitted with GPS transponder units between 2012 and 2013. The remaining trucks are to be outfitted with GPS units as part of the expedited initiative, which is expected to be completed by this July.

The initiative is the result of a March 26 agreement between the governments of Canada and British Columbia and Port Metro Vancouver reached agreement with members of the United Truckers Association and labor union Unifor.

The agreement resulted in the end of a 28-day strike at the port by drayage truck drivers. The expedited implementation of Port Metro Vancouver’s GPS Program represents one point in a 15-point joint action plan agreed to by both sides that the port says will provide a framework for long-term stability in the container trucking industry.

The current round of funding is being split amongst three contributors, with Transport Canada providing $ 855,000, Port Metro Vancouver $ 595,000, and the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure providing $ 260,000. This brings the total cost of the program, which started in 2013, to over $2.5 million.

Port Metro Vancouver, Truckers Reach Deal to End Strike

By Mark Edward Nero

Port Metro Vancouver and the hundreds of drayage truck drivers that haul goods to and from the port reached a deal on March 26 to end a strike launched March 10 by members of the Unifor-Vancouver Container Truckers’ Association.

The two sides, with the aid of a federal negotiator, have agreed to accept a revised version of a 14-point plan by the port that had been previously rejected by the truck drivers.

“We are pleased an agreement has been reached for moving forward with the 14-point action plan,” Port Metro Vancouver President & CEO Robin Silvester said in a statement. “The impacts of this ongoing dispute have been significant for Canadian families, businesses and our international customers.”

More that 1,000 non-union truckers also participated in the strike. They are represented by the non-profit United Truckers Association of British Columbia, which began a work stoppage and set up a blockade at Port Metro Vancouver on Feb. 26 in protest of long wait times at port terminals.

Earlier this month, Unifor had stated that the joint action plan, which includes such broadly worded provisions as assessing wage and fuel surcharge rates by mid-2015 and restructuring the trucking licensing system and the additional rolling out of GPS technology for trucks, did meet truckers’ concerns.

However, after rounds of negotiations, the sides came to an agreement, the details of which weren’t immediately available. The union previously said it wanted a wage increase and for fees for wait times to kick in after only one hour, rather than two, and for the fees to increase over time.

The agreement was reached about a week after the port had threatened to begin the process of revoking the licenses to operate at the port of striking truckers if they didn’t return to the job.

An estimated 90 percent of truck traffic was halted during the first several days of the strike, according to the port, although that number eventually dropped to about 60 percent. The economic impact of truckers walking off the job, Silvester said, was about $885 million per week.

“We anticipate it will take some time for our backlogs to clear before the port can return to normal operations,” Silvester said.