Prince Rupert welcomes its 100th container vessel


The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) has initiated the environmental assessment for the Phase 2 expansion of the Fairview Container Terminal with a 30-day public consultation process beginning in late March. Phase 2 will quadruple the terminal’s current designed capacity from 500,000 teu to 2m teu.

The expansion project is proceeding on schedule: all field and marine work in preparation for the environmental assessment process has been completed, as well as an archeological impact assessment. Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2010/early 2011, with completion due by early 2014. The PRPA and partners are continuing their due diligence and review of the business environment for the US$650m project.

In the meantime, Canada’s newest and most advanced Container Examination Facility (CEF) has been fully integrated into the movement of inspected containers between the Fairview Terminal and rail transit schedules. The U$10m, 40,000 sq ft facility, constructed and operated by Quickload Terminals on the industrial-zoned Ridley Island, enables the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to examine targeted containers quickly and efficiently.