{{Short description|Port in British Columbia, Canada}} {{Infobox port |name = Port of Prince Rupert |image = Prince Rupert Harbour 6.jpg |image_size = 300px |image_caption = Port of Prince Rupert in 2005 |country = Canada |location = Prince Rupert, British Columbia |coordinates = {{Coord|54.2883|N|130.3562|W|region:CA-BC_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}} |locode = CA PRR<ref name="Unece-1">{{cite web |title=UNLOCODE (CA) – CANADA |url=https://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/cefact/locode/ca.htm |website=www.unece.org |publisher=UNECE |accessdate=9 September 2020}}</ref> |draft_depth = {{cvt|-16|m}} |opened = 1914 |arrivals = |containervolume = {{TEU|1.21 million|first=yes}} (CY 2019)<ref name=CY2019>{{Cite web|title=CY 2019 Western Hemisphere Port Cargo and Passenger Counts |url=https://www.aapa-ports.org/unifying/content.aspx?ItemNumber=21048|access-date=2020-09-08|website=www.aapa-ports.org}}</ref> |cargotonnage = 29.84 million metric revenue tons (CY 2019)<ref name=CY2019/> |cargovalue = |passengertraffic = 12,435 passengers (CY 2019)<ref name=CY2019/> |revenue = |size = |sizeland = {{convert|667731|ha|acre}} |berths = 5 |lines = {{rint|ca|cn}} CN Rail |leadershiptitle = President & CEO |leader = Shaun Stevenson |blankdetailstitle1 = Board Chair |blankdetails1 = Frans Tjallingi |website = {{URL|http://www.rupertport.com/}} }} The '''Port of Prince Rupert''' is a seaport managed by the '''Prince Rupert Port Authority''' that occupies {{convert|667,731|ha|acre|abbr=off}} of land and water along {{convert|20|km|mi|abbr=off}} of waterfront. The port is located in Prince Rupert Harbour in the North Coast Regional District of British Columbia.
The Port of Prince Rupert is the third busiest seaport in Canada by container volume and cargo tonnage after the Port of Vancouver and Port of Montreal.<ref name=CY2019/> The port is also the deepest ice-free natural harbour in North America, and the 3rd deepest natural harbour in the world.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.rupertport.com/our-advantages/|title= Prince Rupert Port Authority: Our Advantages|website=www.rupertport.com|access-date=10 April 2025}}</ref>
The port is near the northern limit of the Pacific Pilotage District, it is also a Canadian Port of Entry, and has a shorter great-circle distance to far eastern ports than other Pacific Northwestern ports.<ref>{{cite thesis | last = Young | first = Brian | title = Marine Pilotage on Canada’s West Coast | type = Executive MBA Major Project | institution= Simon Fraser University | year = 2013 | url = https://summit.sfu.ca/item/13088 | accessdate = 2026-01-03 | location = Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada }}</ref>
==History== ===Early 20th century=== The Port of Prince Rupert was built upon the completion of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in 1914 and its development had been promoted by Grand Trunk Railway president Charles Melville Hays as an alternative to the Port of Vancouver, which was serviced by the Canadian Pacific and Canadian Northern railways. In 1919, the Grand Trunk Pacific fell into bankruptcy and was nationalized by the federal government and merged into the Canadian National Railways (CNR).
The port was expanded during World War II to support Canadian and United States military action in the Pacific Theatre, notably in the Alaska Territory.
===Late 20th century=== Prince Rupert was declared a ''public harbour'' in 1912, and later became a ''national harbour'' on {{date|1972-03-09}},<ref>{{cite web |title=National Harbours Board (Prince Rupert, B.C.) fonds |url=https://www.princerupertarchives.ca/search/detail-bare.php?ID=635 |website=Prince Rupert City & Regional Archives |publisher=City of Prince Rupert |access-date=10 January 2026 |quote=Prince Rupert was declared a public harbour in 1912 and a national harbour on March 9, 1972. }}</ref> followed by several years of construction of various facilities such as the Fairview and Ridley Terminals. Status evolved again in 1983, becoming a Port Corporation under the ''Canada Ports Corporation Act''.<ref>{{cite thesis |last=Byrne |first=Nicholas |title=The little port that could: changing port governance in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, 1945-2014 |type=Master’s thesis |work=University of British Columbia |year=2015 |url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/media/stream/pdf/24/1.0166345/1 |doi=10.14288/1.0166345 |access-date=10 January 2026 |publisher=University of British Columbia Library }}</ref> A 1989 expansion of the Fairview Terminal added a third berth and 6.5 ha of storage area.
In 1989, 1,705 total vessels, including 468 deep sea vessels, with 11,332,000 tonnes of cargo moved through the port.<ref>Ministry of Development, Trade and Tourism, British Columbia (July 1991). ''Review of Prospectus for Kitimat-Terrace Port Society Proposal''</ref> Between {{daterange|1982|2021}} the Aquatrain barge carried rail cargo between Prince Rupert and Whittier, Alaska.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cook |first1=Adam |title=CN's Aquatrain Connecting Canada and the Continental US to the Alaskan market {{!}} cn.ca |url=https://www.cn.ca/en/stories/20171010-aquatrain/ |website=www.cn.ca |language=en |date=2017-10-10 |access-date=2019-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021091429/https://www.cn.ca/en/stories/20171010-aquatrain/ |archive-date=2019-10-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Megatrains – Ep 3 – Aqua Train (at 1m15s) |url=https://www.earthtouchtvsales.com/distribution/megatrains-ep-3-aqua-train/ |website=Earth Touch Sales & Distribution |language=en |date=2015 |access-date=2020-12-12 |archive-date=2021-07-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727020242/https://www.earthtouchtvsales.com/distribution/megatrains-ep-3-aqua-train/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Alaska Railroad Industries AquaTrain |url=https://www.alaskarails.org/industries/aquatrain.html |website=www.alaskarails.org |date=9 March 2016}}</ref> Service ended in April 2021.<ref name=Last-Aquatrain>{{cite web | url=https://www.alaskarails.org/industries/aquatrain/last/index.html | title=The Last AquaTrain | date=2021}}</ref>
===Conversion to an intermodal terminal=== In April 2005, it was announced that the Fairview Terminal would be converted into an intermodal container shipping terminal, given Prince Rupert's advantages of having a location along the Pacific Great Circle Route between Asia and the west coast of North America; which makes it the first inbound and last outbound port of call, as well as having the deepest natural harbour depths on the continent.<ref>[http://www.ic.gc.ca/cmb/welcomeic.nsf/0/85256a5d006b972085256fe40052f3a6?OpenDocument ''"Major Investment in Prince Rupert Port Expansion"'']{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} – Industry Canada – April 15, 2005</ref><ref name=WEDC-PRCT-2007-09-12>[http://www.wd.gc.ca/eng/77_9573.asp ''"Prince Rupert Container Terminal Opening New World of Opportunities"''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927163400/http://www.wd.gc.ca/eng/77_9573.asp |date=2011-09-27 }} – Western Economic Diversification Canada – September 12, 2007</ref><ref>Whiteley, Don. [http://www.bcbusinessmagazine.com/bcb/top-stories/2007/07/01/prince-ports ''"Prince of ports"''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070811221625/http://www.bcbusinessmagazine.com/bcb/top-stories/2007/07/01/prince-ports |date=2007-08-11 }} – at BC Business</ref>
With both a shorter route to Prince Rupert, and with less municipal congestion than other West Coast ports, additional rail infrastructure investments toward Canada's heartland cut time from East Asian markets to North American destinations. Sea travel time to the West Coast, time in processing the containers in port, and the time in getting products to the Midwestern United States became more efficient. The overall time from ports like Busan, Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, Shanghai, and Singapore in Asia and to eventual Midwest destinations like, Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and St. Louis, see time and cost reductions.<ref>[http://www.locationcanada.com/asiaPacific.htm ''Canada: The Asia–Pacific Gateway''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810142234/http://www.locationcanada.com/asiaPacific.htm |date=2007-08-10 }} – Location Canada</ref>
On September 12, 2007, phase 1 the Fairview Terminal opened for business and received its first container ship (from COSCO) in October. Phase 1 has an annual container-handling capacity of only 500,000 TEUs.<ref name=WEDC-PRCT-2007-09-12 /> However Phase 2, planned to be completed late in 2010, will increase the Port of Prince Rupert's capacity to 2 million TEUs, and to 4 million TEUs by 2015, and there is extensive capacity for further expansion.<ref>Paulson, Dave. Editor. – [http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/news/current/n_empty.php?sid=1326793 ''"Perfect position"'']{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} – the Prince George Citizen – Tuesday, November 7, 2006</ref><ref>Hoekstra, Gordon. [http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/news/current/n_empty.php?sid=1381517 ''"China deal could help area grow"'']{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} – the Prince George Citizen – Wednesday, January 17, 2007</ref><ref>Paulson, Dave. Editor. – [http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=100671&Itemid=161 ''"Golden opportunity"''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070903225927/http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/index.php?option=com_content |date=2007-09-03 }} – the Prince George Citizen – Friday, 03 August 2007</ref> This will provide much-needed relief to the congested west-coast ports of North America. The containerization of the Fairview Terminal is an important part of the Asia–Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative of the Government of Canada and the Pacific Gateway strategy of the Province of British Columbia.
The second phase expansion has been protested by some First Nations groups, saying that the PRPA failed to consult them.<ref>[http://www.portworld.com/news/2007/04/67647?gsid=83d745b6268cf0ed7570d1cd0f8336f0&asi=1 ''"Calls for work to stop on container terminal expansion"''] – portworld – 27 Apr 2007</ref> Another group in Delta is lobbying for the expansion of the Prince Rupert port in order that the port at Delta will not be expanded.<ref>[http://www.againstportexpansion.org/alternatives.html ''"Prince Rupert, an Alternatives to Deltaport"''] Against Port Expansion in Delta</ref>
On January 23, 2013, federal Environment Minister Peter Kent approved the environmental assessment of the Phase 2 expansion of the terminal. However, there was no set time frame for the construction of Phase 2, as the decision is up to Maher Terminals to proceed. It was noted that the need for expansion does not yet exist as through operation efficiencies achieved by the design of the terminal and the workforce, the actual capacity of the terminal (750,000 TEUs) exceeds current demand.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thenorthernview.com/news/188371681.html |title=The Northern View – UPDATE: Prince Rupert's Fairview Terminal expansion given the green light |access-date=2013-06-23 |archive-date=2013-01-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129210623/http://www.thenorthernview.com/news/188371681.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In January 2015 there was a trade dispute when the State of Alaska had solicited for bids for a ferry terminal update.<ref>[https://www.adn.com/article/20150106/alaska-grapples-canadian-opposition-requirement-us-steel-new-ferry-dock Alaska grapples with Canadian opposition to requirement for U.S. steel in new ferry dock]</ref> The project was seeking U.S. Federal funds which required that the project comply with the Buy America Act. The Canadian Government blocked the project<ref>[http://www.adn.com/article/20150121/alaska-calls-proposed-bc-ferry-terminal-after-dispute-over-us-steel Alaska calls off proposed B.C. ferry terminal after dispute over US steel]</ref> and the state of Alaska canceled bids because a temporary solution could not be reached.<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/alaska-cancels-ferry-project-bids-dispute-canada-28391531 Alaska Cancels Ferry Project Bids After Dispute With Canada]</ref>
The Port of Prince Rupert is advancing its logistics infrastructure through the development of LinX, a transload and logistics facility set to launch in Q1 2027.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-30 |title=PRPA and Metlakatla Development Corporation Partner to Develop New Import Logistics Project |url=https://www.rupertport.com/prpa-and-metlakatla-development-corporation-partner-to-develop-new-import-logistics-project/ |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=Prince Rupert Port Authority |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Prince Rupert promoting transload operations to improve logistics efficiency {{!}} Journal of Commerce |url=https://www.joc.com/article/prince-rupert-promoting-transload-operations-to-improve-logistics-efficiency-5937532 |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=joc.com |language=en}}</ref> Operated by IntermodeX, an SSA Marine Enterprise,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-03 |title=IntermodeX Announces Construction of LinX Logistics Facility at the Port of Prince Rupert |url=https://www.ssamarine.ca/news/intermodex-announces-construction-of-linx-logistics-facility-at-the-port-of-prince-rupert/ |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=SSA Marine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ssa Marine, Inc. Seattle, WA - filing information |url=https://www.bizprofile.net/wa/seattle/ssa-marine-inc |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=www.bizprofile.net |language=en}}</ref> the initial 30-acre phase will include a 100-door facility designed to streamline cargo movement between North America and the Asia-Pacific region, leveraging the port’s strategic proximity to Asia and CN’s rail network.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Redefining Transload Solutions: A Multilateral Collaboration between CN, Kuehne+Nagel, and IntermodeX {{!}}cn.ca |url=https://www.cn.ca/en/stories/20240223-redefining-transload-solutions |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=www.cn.ca |language=en}}</ref>
The project aligns with the port’s broader role as North America’s closest gateway to Asia, offering reduced transit times and streamlined intermodal services through its integration with CN’s transcontinental rail network.
==Governance== The Prince Rupert Port Authority was created on May 1, 1999 and succeeds the Prince Rupert Port Corporation (PRPC).<ref name="gazette-prpa">{{cite web |title=Canada Gazette Part I, Vol. 133, No. 18 – Letters Patent issued to Prince Rupert Port Authority |url=https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/1999/1999-05-01/pdf/g1-13318.pdf |website=Canada Gazette (Government of Canada) |publisher=Public Works and Government Services Canada |date=1 May 1999 |access-date=15 Feb 2026 |format=PDF |location=Ottawa, Canada }}</ref> Prince Rupert was among 8 national ports in Canada which implemented this administrative change on this date, as required by the Canada Marine Act which passed on June 11, 1998. PRPC was the successor to the National Harbours Board, which previously operated all federally owned ports in Canada.
PRPA reports to the Minister of Transport and has a Board of Directors typically consisting of local business and community figures. During debate on proposed legislative amendments to the Canada Marine Act (Bill C‑33), Members of Parliament discussed establishing Indigenous advisory committees to ensure ongoing involvement of Indigenous groups in port management.<ref>{{cite web |title=House of Commons Debates (Hansard) No. 168 – March 10 2023 |url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/house/sitting-168/hansard |website=Parliament of Canada |publisher=House of Commons |date=10 March 2023 |access-date=15 Feb 2026 |format=HTML }}</ref>
==Facilities== [[File:Passenger Terminal, Prince Rupert.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Atlin Terminal, a passenger terminal located in downtown Prince Rupert]] [[File:British Columbia IMG 2467 (14419250587).jpg|thumb|right|250px|Fairview Terminal, a container terminal located just south of the city]] [[File:MV Opportunity at the Ridley Island Grain Terminal.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Ridley Island Prince Rupert Grain, a bulk cargo terminal located just west of Port Edward]] PRPA port facilities include: * Atlin Terminal * Northlands Cruise Terminal * Lightening Dock * Ocean Dock * Pinnacle Pellet Terminal * Fairview Terminal * Prince Rupert Grain * Trigon Pacific Terminals (formerly Ridley Terminals)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chiang |first1=Chuck |title=Feds announce $75M investment in Prince Rupert port |url=https://biv.com/article/2022/11/feds-invest-75m-prince-rupert-port |access-date=13 September 2023 |work=Business in Vancouver |date=16 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230716134923/https://biv.com/article/2022/11/feds-invest-75m-prince-rupert-port |archive-date=16 July 2023}}</ref> * Westview Wood Pellet Terminal
All PRPA facilities are serviced by CN Rail.
{| class="wikitable" |+ Container terminals |- ! Terminal ! Operator ! Depth<br />(m) ! Berths ! Quay length<br />(m) ! Quay cranes ! Area<br />(m<sup>2</sup>) ! Capacity<br />(kTEUs) ! References |- | Fairview (Phase 1) || PRPA || 16 || 1 || 400 || 3 || 234,718 || 500 || <ref name="PRPA">{{cite web |url= http://www.rupertport.com/container.php|title= Prince Rupert Container Terminal Development|accessdate=2008-07-22|publisher=Prince Rupert Port Authority}}</ref> |- | Fairview (Phase 2) || PRPA || 16 || 5 || 800 || 8–12 || 667,731 || 2000 || <ref name="PRPA" /> |}
With the completion of Phase 2, the port has a capacity of 2,000 kTEUs. For comparison, the Port of Vancouver handles 2,500 kTEUs of cargo.
=== Pacific port volumes === Cargo handled expressed in the number of 20-foot-equivalent units (TEUs) and million metric tonnes (MMT).<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/news/local-news/prince-rupert-container-growth-highest-on-west-coast-1.23801102 |title =Cargo handled|website=www.princegeorgecitizen.com }}</ref> Statistics for American ports are excluded, because of inconsistencies among various web pages. The major differences may be due to the inclusion of empty containers shipped. {{Aligned table |cols=5|class=wikitable|col1align=left |col2align=center |col3align=center|col4align=center|col5align=center|row1header=y | Port | TEU 2017 | TEU 2018 | MMT 2017 | MMT 2018 | | (000) | (000) | | | Prince Rupert | 927 | 1,036 | 24.2 | 26.7 | Vancouver | 3,252 | 3,396 | 142.0 | 147.0 }}
===Funding for container terminal=== The Canadian $170 million terminal project,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wd.gc.ca/eng/77_9573.asp |title=Prince Rupert Container Terminal Opening New World of Opportunities |access-date=2012-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927163400/http://www.wd.gc.ca/eng/77_9573.asp |archive-date=2011-09-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> with a design capacity of 500,000 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) has been funded by five partners: * Maher Terminals, $60 million, including the three super-post panamax cranes * Government of Canada: Western Economic Diversification Canada, $30 million * Province of British Columbia, $30 million * CN Rail, $25 million towards the terminal's rail-related infrastructure * Prince Rupert Port Authority, $25 million
==See also== * Western Economic Diversification Canada * List of deepest natural harbours
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
== External links == {{commons category|Port of Prince Rupert}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20130729172613/http://www.cosbc.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=909&Itemid=98 International Shipping in British Columbia] * [http://www.cosbc.ca/images/docs/BCPortsHandbook2011.pdf#page=79 Chamber of Shipping (BC): ''BC Ports handbook''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203085040/http://www.cosbc.ca/images/docs/BCPortsHandbook2011.pdf#page=79 |date=2024-02-03 }} (pdf, 258 p.)
{{Ports of Canada}}
Category:Port authorities in Canada Category:Ports and harbours of British Columbia Category:Transport in Prince Rupert, British Columbia