Canadian container terminal concept aired

Port Alberni says the new terminal would “provide greater efficiencies and effectiveness throughout the Asia Pacific Canada Gateway”, and reduce congestion at port facilities in the lower mainland because unlike container ships, barges can navigate the Fraser estuary, dropping cargo further inland.

A spokesperson for PAPA told Port Strategy: “It will allow us to maximise the use of our natural marine highway, Fraser River, and will facilitate industrial growth further upstream due to shallow barges being able to reach further,” said the spokesperson.

As a result of the new terminal, shippers’ journeys could also be cut in half. Almost all container ships currently call at two ports in the area – Seattle or Tacoma and Vancouver – and spend four to five days on average in ports for cargo operation.

“PATH will be able to bring that same ship, offload and load within a day or two and send it back to sea. Cargo received will then be sorted out by various requirements and delivered by barge to the closest point relevant to the end user in Metro Vancouver area or Puget Sound,” the spokesperson added.

PAPA says it would also bring significant economies of scale – at present the largest terminals in the Port of Vancouver handle 2,400 containers per day, the new facility would have more than twice that capacity.

Apparently the project is at its conceptual stage and numerous obstacles lay ahead which could scupper the project. Not least that the project would be sited in part on land belonging to the Huu-ay-aht First Nation people.

There are also major environmental issues to deal with – Barkley Sound, where the Alberni Inlet meets the ocean, is one of the most pristine ecosystems on the west of coast of North America.

A $500,000 feasibility study is needed before the project can proceed any further.