Canadian Port Expansions
It is not only the new Mexican superports and their link to the Nafta Highway that will take port traffic away from the Long Beach/Los Angeles ports, but also the expansion of the Canadian ports.
Canada could steal port business from U.S., report says
Asia Pacific Foundation says greater collaboration could create jobs at expense of stalled U.S. port operations
By Scott Simpson, March 6, 2013
A ship loads containers at Centerm during a Port
Metro Vancouver tour of the port area between Lions Gate Bridge and Iron
Workers Memorial Bridge in Vancouver, B.C. on July 14, 2011.
Canada could “readily take” 10 per cent of total annual United States
container volume if port stakeholders in this country work
collaboratively to upgrade their operations, according to a new report
from the Asia Pacific Foundation.
The report, released Wednesday, says U.S. port and rail capacity has effectively topped out whereas strategic Canadian ports such as Vancouver, Prince Rupert and Halifax “can expand substantially without major disruptions, and they are closer in time, measured in days, to Europe and Asia than their U.S. counterparts.”
At present Canada has only a five-per-cent market share of container traffic among North America, Europe and Asia, according to the report titled Seizing the Continent: Opportunities for a North American Gateway.
But that share could double, “even during the current recession,” at the expense of the U.S., generating “huge” employment gains and higher wages for Canadian port operators, truckers and cargo terminal and railway workers.
The report suggests the timeline to take advantage is “perhaps three or four years” — and that container traffic between North America and Asia is growing by about 12 per cent a year.
The report calls on the federal government to lead collaboration among port stakeholders to grab the opportunity — which will require a mix of globally focused port expansion planning, a “critical mass” of skilled workers and “tight transportation links.”
Canada’s major or “Carrier 1” railways, Canadian National and Canadian Pacific, have the routes and capacity to support increased container movement around North America and through Canadian ports, the report states. They have east-west alignments, “excellent” links to ports and terminal infrastructure, and solid connections to major U.S. consumer markets. CN, in fact, is the leading first-tier railway on the continent.
Meanwhile, Canadian terminal operators and railways in the past five years “are beginning to develop the deeper collaborative relationships necessary to be worthy of being called ‘world class’ in today’s global supply chains.”
The U.S., by contrast, is hemmed in and unable to respond to a challenge from Canada without resorting to attempts at protectionist legislation due to an array of obstacles that include “political gridlock.”
“This is not an opportunity available to U.S. ports and railroads beyond their traditional roles in the domestic market. Throughout the United States, ports will find it difficult to expand their capacity—and this problem also applies to Carrier 1 railroads. Between the forces of environmentalists and NIMBYs (‘not in my back yard’), no significant new ports or major rail-capacity expansion are likely in our lifetime. This presents Canada with an exclusive opportunity.”
Prince Rupert Port Authority
http://www.rupertport.com/

The Port of Prince Rupert enjoys significant competitive advantages over other west coast ports.
Shortest Trade Route Between North America and Asia's fast growing economiesThe Port of Prince Rupert is North America's closest port to key Asian markets by up to three days - it's 36 hours closer to Shanghai than Vancouver and over 68 hours closer than Los Angeles.
Our strategic location and growing trade capacity gives shippers a powerful competitive edge in the global economy.

One of the deepest natural harbours in North America The Port of Prince Rupert has one of the deepest natural harbours in the world and the deepest inner harbour entrance of any of our competitors. With a channel depth of 35 metres and terminal berths of 17 metres, the Port is capable of handling the largest vessels deployed in transpacific trade.
One of the safest, most efficient ports in North America with easy access to international shipping lanesBased on a number of marine risk factors, including wind, depth, and channel width, the Port of Prince Rupert is arguably the safest port on the West Coast of North America.
The sheltered, ice-free harbour at the Port provides unobstructed entry to shipping lanes in the Pacific Ocean -- there are no significant navigational hazards or narrow channels to navigate. The pilot station is only two hours from the terminals.
Modern, state-of-the-art facilities
Designed with speed and efficiency in mind, the Port's modern, high-throughput bulk and container terminals provide shippers with a distinct competitive advantage in their supply chain management. All of the terminals at the Port have the capacity to increase volumes or expand their operations.
Our terminals connect directly into the Northwest Transportation Corridor, a modern rail and road network engineered and built to carry massive volumes. The CN rail line gives shippers immediate access and reach into North America. CN has significant capacity to expand and accommodate large increases in cargo traffic.
The report, released Wednesday, says U.S. port and rail capacity has effectively topped out whereas strategic Canadian ports such as Vancouver, Prince Rupert and Halifax “can expand substantially without major disruptions, and they are closer in time, measured in days, to Europe and Asia than their U.S. counterparts.”
At present Canada has only a five-per-cent market share of container traffic among North America, Europe and Asia, according to the report titled Seizing the Continent: Opportunities for a North American Gateway.
But that share could double, “even during the current recession,” at the expense of the U.S., generating “huge” employment gains and higher wages for Canadian port operators, truckers and cargo terminal and railway workers.
The report suggests the timeline to take advantage is “perhaps three or four years” — and that container traffic between North America and Asia is growing by about 12 per cent a year.
The report calls on the federal government to lead collaboration among port stakeholders to grab the opportunity — which will require a mix of globally focused port expansion planning, a “critical mass” of skilled workers and “tight transportation links.”
Canada’s major or “Carrier 1” railways, Canadian National and Canadian Pacific, have the routes and capacity to support increased container movement around North America and through Canadian ports, the report states. They have east-west alignments, “excellent” links to ports and terminal infrastructure, and solid connections to major U.S. consumer markets. CN, in fact, is the leading first-tier railway on the continent.
Meanwhile, Canadian terminal operators and railways in the past five years “are beginning to develop the deeper collaborative relationships necessary to be worthy of being called ‘world class’ in today’s global supply chains.”
The U.S., by contrast, is hemmed in and unable to respond to a challenge from Canada without resorting to attempts at protectionist legislation due to an array of obstacles that include “political gridlock.”
“This is not an opportunity available to U.S. ports and railroads beyond their traditional roles in the domestic market. Throughout the United States, ports will find it difficult to expand their capacity—and this problem also applies to Carrier 1 railroads. Between the forces of environmentalists and NIMBYs (‘not in my back yard’), no significant new ports or major rail-capacity expansion are likely in our lifetime. This presents Canada with an exclusive opportunity.”
Prince Rupert Port Authority
http://www.rupertport.com/
Canada's Leading Edge Port
The Port of Prince Rupert is Canada's leading edge port -- in trade growth, maritime safety, environmental stewardship and community partnerships.
With the distinct advantage of being the closest North American port to Asia by up to three days, the Port of Prince Rupert is uniquely positioned on the shortest trade route between the world's most dynamic economies -- an ideal location to serve shippers and producers, facilitate trade and grow the Canadian economy.
With five world-class terminals, including the fastest-growing container terminal in North America, and ample industrial land ready for development, the Port of Prince Rupert is growing Canada's trade with Asia's fast growing economies safely, responsibly and sustainably.
With the distinct advantage of being the closest North American port to Asia by up to three days, the Port of Prince Rupert is uniquely positioned on the shortest trade route between the world's most dynamic economies -- an ideal location to serve shippers and producers, facilitate trade and grow the Canadian economy.
With five world-class terminals, including the fastest-growing container terminal in North America, and ample industrial land ready for development, the Port of Prince Rupert is growing Canada's trade with Asia's fast growing economies safely, responsibly and sustainably.
Competitive Advantages

The Port of Prince Rupert enjoys significant competitive advantages over other west coast ports.
Shortest Trade Route Between North America and Asia's fast growing economiesThe Port of Prince Rupert is North America's closest port to key Asian markets by up to three days - it's 36 hours closer to Shanghai than Vancouver and over 68 hours closer than Los Angeles.
Our strategic location and growing trade capacity gives shippers a powerful competitive edge in the global economy.

One of the deepest natural harbours in North America The Port of Prince Rupert has one of the deepest natural harbours in the world and the deepest inner harbour entrance of any of our competitors. With a channel depth of 35 metres and terminal berths of 17 metres, the Port is capable of handling the largest vessels deployed in transpacific trade.
One of the safest, most efficient ports in North America with easy access to international shipping lanesBased on a number of marine risk factors, including wind, depth, and channel width, the Port of Prince Rupert is arguably the safest port on the West Coast of North America.
The sheltered, ice-free harbour at the Port provides unobstructed entry to shipping lanes in the Pacific Ocean -- there are no significant navigational hazards or narrow channels to navigate. The pilot station is only two hours from the terminals.
Modern, state-of-the-art facilities
Designed with speed and efficiency in mind, the Port's modern, high-throughput bulk and container terminals provide shippers with a distinct competitive advantage in their supply chain management. All of the terminals at the Port have the capacity to increase volumes or expand their operations.
Our terminals connect directly into the Northwest Transportation Corridor, a modern rail and road network engineered and built to carry massive volumes. The CN rail line gives shippers immediate access and reach into North America. CN has significant capacity to expand and accommodate large increases in cargo traffic.
Fast, efficient and uncongested rail access
The Port is a terminus station of CN Rail, a major Class 1 North American carrier. CN is the only railway to serve ports on the Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf Coasts which means greater efficiencies for shippers, importers and exporters.
Free of urban congestion, the rail line travels along the Northwest Transportation Corridor through the most moderate rail grade in the Canadian Rockies and on to North America's heartland through Chicago before arriving in New Orleans on the Gulf of Mexico.
Significant capacity for growth through greenfield developmentThe Prince Rupert Port Authority has some of the most desirable industrial development property on tidewater in North America, unobstructed by urban development and ranging from light to heavy industrial. There are more than 400 hectares of prime industrial land ready for development at the Port for container, bulk and other cargo-related facilities.
The Port is a terminus station of CN Rail, a major Class 1 North American carrier. CN is the only railway to serve ports on the Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf Coasts which means greater efficiencies for shippers, importers and exporters.
Free of urban congestion, the rail line travels along the Northwest Transportation Corridor through the most moderate rail grade in the Canadian Rockies and on to North America's heartland through Chicago before arriving in New Orleans on the Gulf of Mexico.
Significant capacity for growth through greenfield developmentThe Prince Rupert Port Authority has some of the most desirable industrial development property on tidewater in North America, unobstructed by urban development and ranging from light to heavy industrial. There are more than 400 hectares of prime industrial land ready for development at the Port for container, bulk and other cargo-related facilities.