Efficiency investments

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority will work with partners to design a collaborative system to manage marine vessel traffic and optimise the supply chain flow by 31 March 2022. Funding has also been allocated for an electric mechanised conveyor system to transport bulk materials at the Port of Saguenay.

“We are proud to collaborate with port partners, stakeholders, Indigenous groups, and government on this new marine vessel traffic management system that will not only improve and optimise the efficient movement of goods through our port system, but also reduce the environmental and community impacts of trade activity in our gateway,” said Robin Silvester, president and CEO of Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.

“This major contribution from the Government of Canada will allow the Port of Saguenay to electrify its bulk cargo transshipment operations and become even more competitive,” said Stéphane Bédard, chairman of the board of directors of the Port of Saguenay.

Four key benefits

The Port of Vancouver system is anticipated to strengthen marine safety by reducing congestion and actively managing marine traffic in the busiest, most confined waters of the port; improving the efficiency and reliability of the flow of goods for all supply chain partners; reducing environmental impacts, including noise impacts in Southern Resident killer whale habitat, by limiting unnecessary vessel movements; and reducing negative social impacts (like ambient noise and light pollution) by reducing overall anchorage usage in Southern British Columbia and implementing a Code of Conduct for vessels at anchorage.

Saguenay conveyor project

The Government of Canada said it is providing over CAD$33m for the Saguenay conveyor project, through the National Trade Corridors Fund. The Port of Saguenay said it has also secured CAD$33m from the Government of Quebec for the project .

The conveyor system will be used to move materials back and forth between the industrial zone and the railway facilities at the Grande-Anse Marine Terminal. The project is expected to help to increase handling capacity and reduce bottlenecks in daily operations.