COMPLETION of the Phase 2 North expansion of DP World's Fairview Container Terminal at Prince Rupert, BC, will enable the port to dock the world's biggest ships.

In July, the port's container volumes rose 11 per cent year on year, while for the first seven months of 2017, container volumes increased by 15 per cent year on year, according to the port performance report.

The 11-hectare expansion project has boosted the Canadian west coast Fairview Container Terminal capacity from 850,000 TEU to 1.35 million TEU with the second berth, three Malacca-max cranes with a horizontal reach of 25 containers, and 6,000 more feet of on-dock rail, reported American Shipper.

The terminal already had four cranes with a reach of 22 containers wide that will continue to operate at the terminal.

Commenting on the completion of the Phase 2 North expansion project, Canadian National (CN), the only railway with direct access to the port, said it is committed to selling 80 per cent of the terminal's new capacity within three years.

"Today, the world's major steamship companies call on the port, and with more than 15 trains a week from Rupert, it accounts for about 20 per cent of our intermodal business," said CN.

"Prince Rupert's success has been driven by its unparalleled geographical position on the transpacific trade route, its high terminal productivity, and its consistently low dwell times that have been sustained despite our significant growth in throughput over the past two years," said DP World country manager Maksim Mihic.

Source:shippingonline.cn