The completion of the CA$205 million Port Saint John West Side Terminals Modernization Project marks a milestone for the Canadian port.
The project, funded equally by the Federal Government, the Province of New Brunswick, and the Port, overcame challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and global supply chain disruptions, finishing on time and within budget, even expanding in scope.
Also, the west side container terminal now boasts a remarkable 160% increase in laydown capacity, being able to accommodate over 325,000 TEUs. Notable enhancements include a 345-meter berth, the addition of refrigerated towers, the deepening and widening of the main channel through dredging, and an expanded intermodal yard.
Despite its recent completion, the project has already proven its worth, attracting world-class private sector partners and garnering private investments exceeding US$560 million since the funding agreement’s signing in 2016.
The port’s value proposition to importers and exporters has significantly grown, with private sector partners investing over CA$560 million in rail and terminal upgrades. Port Saint John is the sole port in eastern Canada connected to three class one rail lines through its short-line rail partners at NB Southern Rail.
Additionally, a long-term agreement signed in 2016 with DP World, a major global terminal operator, has led to significant investments, including introducing two new post-panamax cranes in 2023.
“Port Saint John is vital to the economy of the city and by extension to the whole of Atlantic Canada,” stated Wayne Long, member of Parliament for Saint John–Rothesay, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities.
Wayne Long further added, “This remarkable modernization of the facility has already generated substantial investments from the private sector, has created good employment and has allowed the Port to nearly double the volume of cargo it handles. This major upgrade of the Port will help the economy locally, provincially and nationally by connecting communities to global trade opportunities. I am proud that this government continues to deliver for Saint John–Rothesay.”
