The $205M Port Saint John West Side Terminals Modernization Project at Port Saint John has come to a close, transforming the port and attracting significant private investment in the process. Funded equally by the Federal Government, Province of New Brunswick, and the Port, this construction project has been completed on time, on budget, and with increased scope despite challenges arising during the COVID-19 pandemic and global supply chain disruptions.

Thanks to this critical infrastructure investment, the west side container terminal is enjoying increased laydown capacity of over 160% or 325,000TEU. Other improvements include a 345-meter berth, the addition of new refrigerated towers, dredged the main channel to be deeper and wider and an expanded intermodal yard.  

Though only newly finished, the project’s clear benefits have been attracting world-class private sector partners and private investments to the tune of $560M since the signing of the project’s funding agreement in 2016.

The value proposition to importers and exporters has grown as private sector partners are investing more than $560M in rail and terminal upgrades. Port Saint John is the only port in eastern Canada that connects to three class one rail lines via our short line rail partners at NB Southern Rail offering unmatched optionality and in 2016 signed a long term agreement with DP World, a world class terminal operator, who have invested millions including two new post-panamax cranes in 2023.

“Port Saint John is proud to announce the completion of the Modernization project that has positioned us to be a critical part of Canada’s supply chain,” said Craig Bell Estabrooks CEO of Port Saint John. “In 2022 our terminal throughput nearly doubled to 151,000TEU and in 2023 we were one of the only ports in North America to see container volumes grow as global trade was down. Our government partners have continually supported our vision for growth and now we are seeing that vision come to reality.”

(Port Saint John photo)