Facility Enhancement: Montréal, Rhode Island, Trois-Rivières, Virginia, Wilmington (DE)

Port of Montréal Opens New Container Terminal

Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau joined Port Authority President Sylvie Vachon, for the inauguration on November 18 of a container terminal in the Viau sector of the Port of Montréal.

The new facility adds 450,000 TEUs to the annual throughput capacity of Canada’s second largest container port. Second phase construction will boost the port’s handling capacity overall to 2.1 million TEUs.

The terminal’s operator, Termont Montréal Inc., is a joint venture by Logistec Stevedoring Inc., Cerescorp Company, and Terminal Investment Limited (which is two-thirds owned by Mediterranean Shipping Company).

The Viau terminal is part of a broader project covering three essential areas: the terminal’s container-handling capacity, marine access and road access.

The Government of Canada is contributing a third of the eligible funding for all three components to a maximum of C$43.7 million under the National Infrastructure Component of the New Building Canada Fund. Of this amount, up to C$27.2 million is available to fund the new container terminal, with the balance to cover the other two components.

Montreal is Canada’s second largest container port, with throughput last year of nearly 1.5 million TEUs.

Rhode Island Approves $70 million Port Improvement Bond Issue

A ballot measure authorizing a state issuance of $70 million in general obligation bonds for port improvements was overwhelming approved by Rhode Island voters in the November 8 general election.

Governor Gina Raimondo proposed the measure in her state budget address to the General Assembly in February.

Of the $70 million, $50 million will be used to modernize Pier 2 and support infrastructure repairs and upgrades at the Quonset Development Corporation’s Port of Davisville. The balance will go for the purchase of up 25 acres and infrastructure improvements benefiting the Port of Providence.

Constructed in 1956, Pier 2 was designed to last 50 years. The bond funds will renew the design life of the structure for another 50 years and add another ship berth.

Davisville is one America’s top auto importing ports. Last year’s throughput reached a record high of 227,021 vehicles, up from 178,215 in 2014 and nearly six times the volume of two decades before.

Pier 2 at the Port of Davisville will undergo a major upgrade thanks to the approval of a state bond issue by Rhode Island voters on November 8.
Photo/Quonset Development Corporation

Trois-Rivières Terminal 13 Construction Nears Completion

The Trois Rivières Authority expects to complete construction of Terminal 13 by the end of November – a month ahead of schedule and within budget.

Beginning in December ships will be able to dock and work cargo at the facility, which occupies about 23,500 square meters (or 5.8 acres).

"With this development, we are restoring to the port a lost capacity which gives full usage of these two piers and an area that responds to the current needs of our users. The port will provide regional businesses better access to outside markets and contribute to the creation of jobs. Dock 13 constitutes the final element of the ‘On Course for 2020’ plan, which the port will have completed three years ahead of schedule," said Gaétan Boivin, the port authority’s president and CEO.

"We are happy to propose infrastructure which responds much better to the real needs of shippers, said Port Operations Director Michel Parent. "The new dock will have a depth of 11 meters compared to 10.7 meters at our other docks. This new depth enables the handling deeper draft vessels. The storage area adjacent to the dock is modern and offers great handling capacity."

The construction of Terminal 13 entailed the demolition of Warehouse 13, reconstruction of Dock 13, consolidation of Dock 14 and layout of the outside storage area along the wharves to allow road and rail access. The project necessitated the construction of Warehouses 16, 24 and 25 to replace a functionally obsolete warehouse, which was demolished to make room for the new terminal.

These projects represent infrastructure investments totaling C$50 million – including $16.2 million from the Government of Canada, C$16.2 million from the port authority, and C$15 million from the private sector.

Located on the St. Lawrence River about midway between Québec and Montreal, the Port of Trois-Rivières handles approximately 3.0 million metric tons of bulk and breakbulk cargo annually.

Virginia Port Orders 86 Automated-Stacking Cranes

The Port of Virginia® is finalizing a $217 million contract with a Finnish company for the construction and delivery of 86 automated-stacking cranes as part of expansion projects at Virginia International Gateway (VIG) and Norfolk International Terminals (NIT).

"The work on making The Port of Virginia the U.S. East Coast’s leading gateway for world trade is truly underway," said Governor Terry McAuliffe said. "We secured the financing for these projects this summer, the planning and preliminary site-work has started and now we have an agreement in place with one of the world’s leading manufacturers of specialized cranes to supply the hardware to move containers safely and efficiently across our two primary container terminals."

The deal ratified November 15 by the Virginia Port Authority’s board of commissioners covers the purchase of the rail-mounted Automated Stacking Cranes – 60 for NIT and 26 for VIG. Delivery begins in 2018 and will continue in phases until 2020.

Once construction is done and the cranes are operational, the port will have the capacity to process an additional 1.0 million containers annually. It will also have the channel depth to handle ultra-large container vessels and double-stack rail connections via Norfolk Southern and CSX to some of the nation’s most important markets.

Property Acquisition to Accommodate Growth at Delaware’s Port of Wilmington

The Diamond State Port Corporation (DSPC) has agreed to purchase a 114-acre property from The Chemours Company for expansion of the Port of Wilmington. Chemours closed the Edgemoor manufacturing operation in August 2015.

This spring the DSPC released a strategic plan that concluded that expansion is vital to the port's long-term survival. It also detailed the taxpayer cost of maintaining the current facility at $300 million over the next twenty years just to maintain existing businesses and their anticipated growth. The plan provided several scenarios for long-term growth, including the development of the Chemours site.

The sale is expected to close in early 2017. The agreed sale price is $10 million.

"The Port of Wilmington has been a source of good-paying, middle class jobs for thousands of Delawareans and their families," said Governor-Elect John Carney. "But, the current port is near capacity, and with larger ships coming up the East Coast, we need this space to compete for their business. This agreement is a step toward strengthening the Port of Wilmington and creating more jobs for Delaware workers. I’m looking forward to building on this momentum and continuing to expand operations at the port."

The Diamond State Port Corporation (DSPC) has agreed to purchase this 114-acre property from The Chemours Company for future expansion of the Port of Wilmington. Photo/Port of Wilmington