Canada Funds Green Port Project in Prince Rupert

The Honourable Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today announced that the Government of Canada will invest $2.5m in the Prince Rupert Port Authority’s (PRPA’s) Fairview Terminal project to provide shore power capacity to container ships through an electric cable management system. Prince Rupert will be the first Canadian port to offer shore power for container ships.

“This project will promote greener freight transportation alternatives for Canadians and significantly improve local air quality,” said Minister Day. “It is another example of how our government is investing in clean technology and infrastructure projects that improve quality of life, protect the environment and stimulate the economy.”

The project is expected to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions by up to 4,000 tonnes and criteria air contaminants by 160 tonnes annually by enabling container ships to shut down their engines and connect to the port’s electrical grid while docked. Through this initiative, the Port of Prince Rupert and the Government of Canada are responding to calls from shipping companies in the marine industry for green port services.

Transport Canada, under the Marine Shore Power Program, will contribute $1.8 million to the project. This funding is in addition to $700,000 contributed by Western Economic Diversification Canada, $200,000 from the Government of British Columbia, and $900,000 from the PRPA and its partners, CN Rail and Maher Terminals.

Construction of the $3.6m project is expected to be complete in early 2011.

“Providing shore power to container ships will improve air quality in the area and also help us achieve our government’s goal of reducing greenhouse emissions by one-third by 2020,” said Shirley Bond, British Columbia’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “This is a first for Canada and is another example of our commitment to tackling climate change.”

“Since the opening of the Fairview Container Terminal in October 2007 it has been a leader. It has led the industry in volume growth and efficiency, with the highest productivity levels on the West Coast of Canada. Today it continues to lead in environmental stewardship as the first container terminal in Canada to offer shore power options,” said Don Krusel, president and chief executive officer, PRPA. “We thank the Government of Canada for its foresight and financial support for this important project.”

This project will provide shore power capacity supplied by an industry leader in marine shore power systems. Electrical connections will be made through a Cavotec dock connector pit and will include a cable management system providing electrical power directly to the ships. BC Hydro will supply power through its existing purpose-built 69-kilovolt distribution line.

The Marine Shore Power Program is one of the ecoFREIGHT initiatives under the ecoTRANSPORT Strategy launched in March 2007. The program’s objective is to identify the best technologies to reduce air pollutants and greenhouse gases by allowing suitably equipped ships to turn off their diesel engines and draw power from specially designed electric transformers on a dock.

The Port of Prince Rupert is Canada’s second-largest West Coast port. Its facilities include coal and grain terminals, an innovative intermodal container terminal and two cruise ship terminals.