Study to examine expanding Prince Rupert capacity to more than 2m TEUs

The Prince Rupert Port Authority and port terminal operator DP World have agreed to study the further expansion of the Fairview Container Terminal beyond its current enlargement project.    The Prince Rupert Port Authority and DP World have agreed to study further expansion of the Fairview Container Terminal in Prince Rupert.
   DP World acquired the Fairview Container Terminal in August from Maher Terminals (the deal was first announced in April), and construction is currently underway for what the port calls the “Phase II North” expansion, which will increase capacity 500,000 TEUs to 1.3 million TEUs overall in 2017.
   The Canadian government has also approved a “Phase II South” expansion following an environmental study.
   Maksim Mihic, DP World Canada Group General Manager, said Phase II South, which could potentially be delivered within the next three to five years depending on demand, would increase the total capacity of Fairview Container Terminal to over 2 million TEUs, and would provide capacity to meet Canada’s Pacific container terminal capacity requirements for decades to come in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner.
   Under the feasibility study announced this this week, DP World intends to study current marine liner services and container volume growth forecasts for transpacific trade on the West Coast, weighing demand for activation of Fairview’s Phase II South expansion to align the project schedule with market demand.
   “This study is critical to the future growth of port operations within British Columbia and will serve as the basis for moving forward with this project in a timely manner,” DP World said of the potential expansion.