Information is Key in Understanding Port needs

I don't think anyone who lives around here is bullish on Port Expansion. I don't get the sense that people would be keen on carrying signs that say 'bring it on" at pro Port rally's.

I don't know anyone who is thrilled with the necessary infrastructure build out that is required to facilitate expansion.

Despite this, many probably do not even know that the Third Berth at Delta Port is being built. Right now...today!

The announcement this week that the Terminal 2 project has been officially started will see the' against' side ramp up their efforts to put the brakes on the project and that is fine.

Many of the people who are not in the 'no' camp, like me, believe that the expansion will be carried out regardless. It will, because Industry and our Government believe the public interest will be best served if our economy remains robust.

There are seven major ports on the west coast of North America and Vancouver is one of them. I often read that expansion of the Panama Canal will negate the need for further expansion in Vancouver (Delta). Is this true? I mean I would like to know the facts so that I can understand what is needed by the Port and then work toward mitigating or adapting to new social, environmental and economic realities.

A recent article in "Pacific Shipper" suggests that an expanded Panama Canal is not an alternative route to best serve Vancouver's Canadian market..."(East Coast ports) will be able to recapture some of the market share they lost to West Coast ports...."

The Massive new ships will load centre into one or a few major US Gulf or East Coast ports in order to maximize their economic return. They will be far to big to bother going all the way to Halifax to serve a small volume of Canadian traffic.

I also hear how Prince Rupert could replace or take a chunk of the Vancouver Port Market. Ships that will call on this port will send the majority of its cargo to the U.S. Midwest. Rupert will not enjoy the inherent marketabilty enjoyed by Vancouver because many ships that will unload at Rupert will leave empty.

Vancouver enjoys a healthy business because the vast majority of ships that call here unload and fill up. This is a simple transaction but it should not be taken for granted.

Long Beach is the largest Port on the West Coast and 50% of its traffic serves the local Californian market ( a market the size of all of Canada) and 50% of its traffic ships to the U.S. Midwest. Oakland Seattle and Tacoma ship 70% of their cargo to the midwest and 30% stays local.

The only Major west coast Canadian Port, Vancouver, distributes 94% of its cargo to local and Canadian markets and only 6% to US markets. It's business is growing.

Attempting to understand the needs of our market and the logistics of local and international trade may help us to recognize (however painful) that there are business needs that the Port has to address in order to help us maintain the quality of life that we are used to.