A blockade of the CN Rail main line near Hazelton is having an echo effect across Northwestern British Columbia and the loudest echo and largest impact is being found on the Prince Rupert waterfront.
Speaking with CBC Radio's Carolina de Ryk on Daybreak North this morning, Shaun Stevenson the President and CEO of the Port of Prince Rupert outlined how the blockade of the rail line in support of the Wet'suwet'en dispute has meant that no trains have come in or out of the facilities of the Port since Saturday afternoon.
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| Trucks continue to transit between the DP World container port and various terminals around the city, but with no new rail shipments coming into the port those volumes will decline |
Stevenson noted that with dozens of trains idled, that the economic vitality of Northern BC is being impacted due to the stoppage of passage.
He added that the Port is attempting to keep things moving when it comes to terminals and ships, but as the supply of incoming product dwindles, many of the terminal locations on the waterfront have already ceased operations.
"The unintended consequences is that it has severely impacted on the operations of the Port of Prince Rupert, and we're very concerned about our ability to operate and offer the service that is quite frankly contributed to our growth and success as a port" -- Port of Prince Rupert CEO and President Shaun Stevenson speaking on CBC Radio's Daybreak North host Carolina de Ryk on Tuesday morning
The President and CEO observed that the cargo that comes through Prince Rupert is discretionary and has a choice as to where those ships can go.
With the potential for vessels to be redirected to Vancouver or US ports something that the Port is concerned about, Mr. Stevenson also made note how the success of the Northwest port is its ability to move goods efficiently through the corridor, which in the case of Prince Rupert is by rail.
He also expressed concerns that the reputational damage is much more impactful than even the lost shifts that we're seeing as a result of the rail service being impaired.
When it comes to the employment levels that are feeling the bite of the blockade, Mr. Stevenson highlighted that 6,000 workers across Northern BC rely on the Port and its rail connection for their employment, with 3,600 direct jobs found in Prince Rupert and the northwest corridor alone.
He made note that the Port is hopeful of a peaceful resolution to the Wet'suwet'en issues, but observed how the Port does not have anything to do with the Coastal GasLink project that is at the heart of the protests and blockades.
The testimony to the current lack of movement of goods through the Port can be viewed in the Prince Rupert Harbour where vessels remain at anchor up and down the coastline.
In addition to those vessels currently tied up at local terminals, the Port's daily ships movements listings currently has eighteen vessels listed as at anchorage with another fourteen vessels listed as pending.
The interview is available on the CBC Daybreak North website here.
For more notes related to the Port of Prince Rupert and the terminals that are on the Prince Rupert waterfront see our archive page here.
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