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Old Posted Dec 9, 2008, 2:35 AM
amor de cosmos amor de cosmos is offline
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Port of Vancouver Discussion

I don't know if I only previewed this earlier or if it got deleted. If it got deleted I guess it'll just get deleted again:

Quote:
All hands on deck as Port Metro Vancouver projects continue
BRIAN MARTIN
correspondent

In a sea of bad economic news, there is a pleasantly bright light as massive development at Port Metro Vancouver (PMV) continues.

About $4.25 billion worth of construction work is planned.

Tom Winkler, chief strategic development officer with PMV, said that his organization is moving forward with its capital expansion plans, despite the current difficult economic conditions in Canada.

“While we anticipate lower volumes than usual for the last few months of 2008, we are projecting overall increases in tonnage for 2009.

The growth may be modest compared with recent years, but we are anticipating growth nonetheless,” he told the November monthly dinner meeting of the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA).

Winkler said that to fulfill its mandate the port must continue to plan for the future and initiate the development required to remain the gateway of choice for Asia Pacific trade.

The projects should create considerable work for both general and trade contractors, along with firms who supply everything from heavy equipment to cold weather underwear.

The largest project by far is the creation of a Terminal Two and 250 acres of container space for Deltaport at Roberts Bank.

It is estimated to cost $2 billion and preliminary work has already begun.

PMV has retained APM Terminals North America Inc. and SNC Lavalin Inc. to develop the conceptual and environmental plans for the project. They’re aiming to finish the project in seven to nine years.

Right next door PMV is moving ahead with plans to create a third berth at the existing Deltaport terminal, which could cost about $450 million. Preload is now being removed and the new berth is expected to be operational in autumn 2009.

The Richmond Logistics Hub is being expanded to the tune of $42.1 million. This 700-acre development is where ships, trucks and trains all meet to swap cargoes. It was started in 2001 and is being developed in stages.

Just upriver, the Surrey Fraser Docks is a container terminal developed in the late 1960s. It is in line for a $20 million upgrade.

In the Inner Harbour there is also considerable work being planned or already underway. Canexus, a chemical company is undertaking an upgrading of its facility in North Vancouver.

The $180 million upgrade will increase its productivity while cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent and lowering its annual manufacturing and capital maintenance costs by 40 per cent.

Canpotex, the Saskatchewan potash export agency is planning to spend $370 million upgrading its shipping facilities. Half of this will be spent in MPV with an expansion adjacent to Neptune Bulk Terminals in North Vancouver.

Currently, Lafarge Cement is preparing to create a new ready mix facility and office building on land owned by the port on Commissioner Street in East Vancouver, but the estimated cost is still under wraps.

Other plans are still in the works.

There is a plan to dredge under the Lion’s Gate Bridge to make the port accessible to today’s generation of larger ships; upgrades to port roads on both the north and the south side of the Inner Harbour; plans to provide the Canada Place cruise ship terminal with shore power so cruise ships don’t have to idle their Diesel engines while in port and a plan to proceed with a series of agencies and municipalities throughout the Fraser Valley on a $300 million project to remove at grade rail crossings from Langley to Deltaport and replace them with overpasses.

“Private industry continues to invest billions of dollars in the Canadian port and transportation sectors,” Winkler pointed out.

In addition, he said provincial and federal governments also recognize the national port and transportation systems as vitally important to the strength of the country.

Port Metro Vancouver was created earlier this year with the amalgamation of the Port of Vancouver, Fraser Surrey Docks and Deltaport.

Trade through the port generates 132,700 total jobs across Canada and port-related activities are responsible for $10.5 billion in gross domestic product, $22 billion in economic output and $6.1 billion in wages.
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