Despite being hit by strikes in the last few days, the Montreal Port Authority (MPA) has launched a public procurement process in preparation for the design and construction of the Contrecœur container terminal project.
The Contrecœur land reserve was acquired over 30 years ago by the port authority and has been the focus of careful collaborative planning to support the development of the supply chain in Quebec and Eastern Canada.
By 2024, with the support of Canada Infrastructure Bank and private partners, the Port of Montreal intends to develop a new state-of-the-art container terminal to handle 1.15m teu.
Sylvie Vachon, President and CEO of the MPA, said: “Launching the Request for Qualification is another milestone for the Contrecœur Terminal. Here again, it shows the project’s progress and relevance, particularly in a context of economic recovery.”
Through this request for qualification, the MPA will preselect up to three companies on the basis of technical and financial criteria.
These companies will then be invited to bid in response to the call for proposals in preparation for construction, which, subject to obtaining the required approvals and permits, will commence in 2021.
The request for qualification is the first step in an open procurement process for this strategic infrastructure project estimated to cost between $750m and $950m.
While complying with the ongoing assessment process, it will make it possible to prepare the start of construction as soon as environmental approvals and permits have been obtained.
The Contrecœur expansion will be located in the the main pool of consumers, importers and exporters in Quebec and Eastern Canada, close to major rail and road routes.
According to the MPA, it will consolidate local strengths to effectively meet future needs and provide a global logistics hub in the heart of the St Lawrence Valley.
Meanwhile, with regards to the immediate problem of the strikes, Hapag-Lloyd has rerouted one of its ships to the Port of Saint John.
The Port of Montreal longshoremen’s union is targeting two container terminals at the port of Montreal belonging to the Tremont company after negotiations over working hours and wages did not yield a breakthrough.
