After successfully converting the former Fairview Terminal from a general cargo facility to a state of the art container handling facility, container vessels commenced calling the Prince Rupert Container Terminal in October of 2007. As Prince Rupert is the closest major North American port to Asia with direct on-dock access to the CN Rail network, ocean carriers and their clients benefit from excellent transit times between Asia and North American markets.
As the terminal has been specifically designed as a high volume Intermodal container transfer facility, containers are rapidly moved between vessel and rail thereby further enhancing Prince Rupert’s total transit time advantage. Strategically situated on the great circle route from Asia, Prince Rupert is also North America’s deepest natural harbor. As such, the Prince Rupert Container Terminal is able to comfortably handle the world’s largest container vessels in a highly productive and efficient manner.
Having established the Port of Prince Rupert and the Prince Rupert Container Terminal as a most viable Intermodal gateway since inception of service in October of 2007, its successful development and implementation reflects the growing confidence of ocean carriers and shippers alike. While ample capacity remains at the current Prince Rupert Container Terminal, plans are already underway for a Phase 2 expansion that will increase current capacity.
In its first year of operations the Prince Rupert gateway has been firmly established as the North American west coast’s premier Intermodal gateway in terms of both total transit time and service reliability.