Green light given for Port's Fairview Expansion plans

Shifting it's gaze to the south! The Port of Prince Rupert has announced
plans for another round of expansion, known as Phase 2B with the footprint
to travel down the shoreline towards Ridley island
(photo from PRPA)

The prospect of 1.8 million  TEU's (twenty foot container units) could be passing through the Fairview Container Facility each year by 2022, with the Port of Prince Rupert and DP World coming to an agreement on the terms for development of what will be known as the Phase 2B expansion, which will create additional space to build on the current capacity for Fairview of 1.35 million TEU's.

Construction of Phase 2B is set for a mid 2019 start, with the staged approach bringing capacity to 1.6 million TEU's by 2020, that through the expansion of a container yard to the south.

The remaining capacity will fall into place as work continues on the site through to 2022.

The Port released the details of the project on Tuesday, just ahead of their Annual Public meeting scheduled for this evening at the North Coast Convention Centre.

PRPA Chair Bud Smith
(photo from PRPA website)

Port of Prince Rupert Chair Bud Smith, highlighted how the expansion plans will work to assist further trans pacific trade from the North coast gateway.

“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. 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 expansion will go towards the south of the current facility and allow for the placement of two new rubber tired gantry cranes as well as an eighth dock gantry crane. 

In addition to the dock expansion, the existing maintenance and administration buildings will be relocated to create additional container storage capacity in the yard.

An additional 6,680 feet of working rail track will be included as part of the expansion, which will make for a total of 24,680 feet of rail on the dock by 2022.

Expansion to the South towards Ridley Island
will see additional berthing space created at
the DP World Terminal in Prince Rupert

With the completion of the expansion, the Truck gate will be re-located to the south end of the terminal where it will connect with the Fairview - Ridley connector project being advanced by the Port.

The connector road is high on the wish list for Prince Rupert residents who have long expressed the desire of having the growing level of truck transit through the city redirected out of the downtown area, the prospect of close to two million units per year through the port by 2022, makes the need for the new route even more vital.

The increased volume also will provide an additional impact on employment prospects for those currently on the employment boards of the ILWU and will most likely see those numbers increase once the expanded facility is in operation in four years time.

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayen
(photo from DP World website)

In today's announcement, DP World Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem put the focus on Prince Rupert's growing importance as part of a global network of trade.

“Canada is an important part of our global network and we are delighted to confirm these plans, which underline our commitment to Prince Rupert, which 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. 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.”

Today's announcement also included comments from CN Rail's JJ Ruest, ILWU Local 505 President Glen Edwardsand local First Nations leaders John Helin and Harold Leighton, who focused on the prospects for economic partnership and development for the region that the expansion offers.

You can review the full background to the announcement here.

Notes related to developments at the DP World terminal in the city can be found here.

More background on today's expansion moves will be provided at tonight's Annual Public Meeting.

For more items of interest related to the Port of Prince Rupert see our archive page here.

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