DP World, the Dubai-based owner and operator of ports, has completed a major expansion project to increase capacity at the Fairview Container Terminal in the city of Prince Rupert, on the northwestern coast of British Columbia, Canada. DP World had launched its project to expand the terminal shortly after buying it for $580 million Canadian dollars ($462.72 million) in August 2015. The Phase 2 North expansion project, as it is known, has seen a second berth added at the terminal, with the existing berth lengthened by 440 metres to a total berth length of 800 metres. The terminal has also been expanded in size to 320,000 square metres following the reclamation of 45,000 square metres of land.

As a result, the terminal’s capacity has increased to 1.35 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) – up from 750,000 TEU.

DP World said the extension would support importers and exporters who favour Fairview as the fastest route between Asian and North American markets.

The terminal was opened in a ribbon-cutting ceremony by Canada’s minister of international trade, Philippe Champagne, and DP World’s group chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem.

“The expanded container terminal is an economic engine for the city of Prince Rupert and is directly responsible for hundreds of jobs, with many others in the local community and beyond benefitting from its operations,” said Bin Sulayem.

We are delighted to mark this occasion today which marks our commitment to Canada and the local community. This is all part of our plans to provide capacity to meet Canada’s Pacific container terminal capacity requirements for decades to come in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner.”

© Zawya 2017