Port Saint John today welcomed the Hapag-Lloyd Barcelona Express at its new, additional pier, celebrating with its arrival the inaugural use of two new post-Panamax cranes at the DP World operated terminal.
Delivered to the Port earlier this year, these cranes enable increased throughput and provide well-paying job opportunities and economic benefits to New Brunswick, as well as expanding the fluidity of Canada’s supply chain. The two new cranes brought the total to four, the most quay cranes ever at Port Saint John and a boost to the terminal’s capacity to operate efficiently and on a broader array of vessels.
Their first use is a testament to DP World’s significant investment in the Port since 2016 and another momentous milestone in the $205 million infrastructure modernization project in partnership with Port Saint John the Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick.
“These two new cranes have transformed our skyline and today their use is our community’s first opportunity to see the potential for continued transformation of our region,” says Craig Bell Estabrooks, President and CEO of Port Saint John. “We are growing and modernizing and we’re bringing the community of Saint John and the whole of New Brunswick along with us by stimulating the creation of more jobs on the waterfront and in the transportation, logistics, and warehousing sectors.”
A key benefit of Port Saint John is the advantage of Class I rail optionality, with 3 networks that extend coast to coast, and across the continent, taking the Port’s inland reach into North America and to as far as Mexico. The capacity added by these newly operational cranes will only further solidify the Port’s advantageous geographic position as a vital transportation hub.
“DP World is proud to partner with Port Saint John in creating a more competitive and modern Atlantic gateway. The introduction of the two new cranes increases the Port’s throughput capacity, performance, and efficiency – ultimately driving sustainable economic growth for the region and the country” said Maksim Mihic, CEO and General Manger, DP World (Canada) Inc. “This investment strengthens Canada’s supply chain by offering more options and global market access for local goods.”
Last year, Port Saint John and its partners exceeded the milestone of 100,000 TEUS of cargo passing through the port, going on to end the year with more than 150,000 TEUs in throughput and a record annual growth rate of 72 per cent. With hundreds of millions in investment from the private sector, government, and the Port itself, Port Saint John is working toward increasing its capacity more than five-fold over the next several years, with a target of 800,000 TEUs of capacity within the next 2 years.
(Photo Port Saint John)
