Regional Update: British Columbia Ports

Regional Update: British Columbia Ports

It still surprises some people when they learn that the third-biggest and busiest seaport in North America—after Los Angeles and Long Beach—isn’t in California or Washington, but in the Canadian province of British Columbia. But it’s true: The Port of Vancouver, which boasts an overall size of 217.5 miles (350 kilometers), a land area of 1,000 hectares (2,471 acres) and a 16,000-hectare (39,536-acre) harbor, is the largest, busiest port in Canada. With a draft depth of 18.4 meters (60.3 feet) and 57 available berths, the POV is capable of accommodating some of the biggest container ships in existence. However, it…
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British Columbia’s Port of Vancouver Launches Cruise Season

British Columbia’s Port of Vancouver Launches Cruise Season

The 2022 cruise season at the Port of Vancouver launched in April with the inaugural visit of the Holland America Line ship Koningsdam to the port’s Canada Place cruise terminal. “We’re delighted to welcome cruise back to the Port of Vancouver after what has been a long two years,” said Robin Silvester, president and CEO of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the federal agency mandated to enable Canada’s trade through the Port of Vancouver. The Port of Vancouver has welcomed cruise passengers to Vancouver for more than 40 years. However, in March 2020, as part of its COVID-19 response, the…
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Port of San Diego, USS Midway Museum’s Proposed ‘Freedom Park’ Moves Forward

Port of San Diego, USS Midway Museum’s Proposed ‘Freedom Park’ Moves Forward

The Port of San Diego and USS Midway Museum are moving forward on a proposal to turn the Navy Pier into a public space to be named “Freedom Park,” the port announced April 13. Port commissioners inked a Memorandum of Understanding outlining financial commitments for the project—$11.7 million in federal stimulus funds and the museum’s contribution of at least $30 million. Work on the project involves demolishing the headhouse on the pier, finishing pile improvements and pier reinforcements and building out the park with features that honor San Diego’s military history, along with adding amenities, according to the port. “Our…
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Port of Long Beach Officially Retires Decommissioned Bridge

Port of Long Beach Officially Retires Decommissioned Bridge

The Gerald Desmond Bridge, a transportation corridor that served the Port of Long Beach for more than 50 years by connecting Terminal Island with the city of Long Beach, was officially retired in a special ceremony on May 7. The bridge, which opened in 1968, was named after a former Long Beach city attorney and city councilman who helped secure funding to build the 5,134-foot-long through-arch bridge that connected Long Beach and Terminal Island. Desmond died in January 1964, when the bridge that would be eventually named for him was still under construction. The Gerald Desmond Bridge was decommissioned when…
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Port of Oakland to Welcome New Logistics Tenant

Port of Oakland to Welcome New Logistics Tenant

PCC Logistics is becoming a tenant at CenterPoint Landing, a massive new warehouse at the Port of Oakland’s Seaport Logistics Complex, the port revealed in April. The new facility is expected to help ease the flow of goods at the Oakland seaport. The logistics company, based just outside Oakland, inked a lease in January for the 27-acre site with CenterPoint Properties, which completed the more than 460,000-square-foot warehouse in 2021. “This effectively marks the launch of the port’s Seaport Logistics Complex, a long-awaited re-use of land that was once occupied by the U.S. Army,” port Executive Director Danny Wan said.…
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Initial Findings of Benicia Port Fire Investigation Point Toward Accidental Causes

Initial Findings of Benicia Port Fire Investigation Point Toward Accidental Causes

A fire at the Port of Benicia that damaged part of the port pier during the weekend of April 9 may have started “on or near the lower portion of the coke conveyor belt system near the base of the silos,” according to initial findings announced by Benicia Fire Chief Josh Chadwick on April 12. The fire, a four-alarm blaze, started at the base of the petroleum coke silo midday on a Saturday, then apparently spread under the pier. Fire crews fought the blaze through the night before it was fully extinguished Sunday afternoon. “The fire appears to be unintentional…
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Port of Benicia Devastated by Four Alarm Fire

Port of Benicia Devastated by Four Alarm Fire

The Port of Benicia, a small, privately operated port in the San Francisco Bay area, was devastated by a four-alarm fire in April. The port, which is operated by Amports, a Maryland-based auto processing company, saw the blaze erupt in the early afternoon of Saturday, April 9, according to the City of Benicia, in the 1000 block of Bayshore Boulevard, next to the Amports port terminal. Benicia Fire Chief Josh Chadwick said that when fire crews arrived, the blaze was burning upward from a conveyer belt toward a docked tanker ship. “While responding, we received updates that the fire (was)…
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San Pedro Bay Ports Begin Collecting Clean Truck Fee

San Pedro Bay Ports Begin Collecting Clean Truck Fee

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach on April 1 began collecting a $10 per TEU rate on loaded import and export containers moved by drayage trucks coming and going from terminals. The ports are working toward reaching zero-emissions for drayage trucks by 2035 and revenue from the fee goes toward the Clean Truck Fund, which was established to help pay for the transition to cleaner trucks and create the funds needed to speed up zero-emissions technology development. About $90 million could be generated in the first year toward that effort, according to the ports. The ports have hired…
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Port of San Diego Adding Electric Vehicles to Fleet

Port of San Diego Adding Electric Vehicles to Fleet

More than a dozen electric vehicles (EV) are scheduled to arrive next year at the Port of San Diego. Port commissioners recently voted to spend $820,000 to buy 14 electric vehicles from National Auto Fleet Group. The 10 medium-duty pickup trucks and four vans will launch the port’s conversion to a zero-emissions fleet, replacing gas or diesel-powered vehicles, the port said March 9. The purchase puts into action the port’s Maritime Clean Air Strategy goals set forth by the community and other stakeholders, Dan Malcolm, chair of the Board of Port Commissioners said. “Not only is our approach to improving…
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Port of Everett Inks Deal for Restoration of Historic Waterfront Building

Port of Everett Inks Deal for Restoration of Historic Waterfront Building

The Port of Everett has signed a 10-year lease with Weyerhaeuser Muse LLC to renovate and reopen the historic 1920s Weyerhaeuser Building on the waterfront. The contract with the company owned by Jack and Jin Ng of China City Property LLC calls for plans to install a new whiskey bar and coffee shop called The Muse and space for the Port of Everett Marina boating clubs to meet. The port plans to spend up to $1 million to renovate and ready the building for tenant improvements later this year. The port hopes to open the building in 2023; it would…
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