Port of Vancouver Discussion

[whatnext]

This is troubling:

Chinese cranes in B.C. ports raise concerns after U.S. security probe
Chinese crane manufacturer ZPMC has a stronghold in B.C. container terminals; it's unclear what the Canadian government is doing about concerns raised by U.S. officials that extra communications devices have been found on the cranes in U.S. ports.
Graeme Wood
34 minutes ago

British Columbia’s major shipping container terminals are outfitted with cranes manufactured by a Chinese company that has sparked a national cybersecurity probe in the United States.

U.S. officials allege they found undisclosed communications components, including cellular modems, on cranes exported by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company (ZPMC) to U.S. ports.

The cybersecurity concerns were serious enough to warrant public disclosure and a special directive from the White House last month, to begin manufacturing such cranes in America.

And it is those concerns that should be heeded by Canadian officials, according to two national security experts here in B.C.

“While Canada still has an existing agreement with the U.S. under the Five Eyes, it would behoove Canada to work with Americans to identify, disrupt and mitigate any efforts by the Chinese to install software in critical Canadian infrastructure, such as these cranes,” said Scott McGregor, a retired military and RCMP intelligence official.....

https://www.biv.com/news/economy-law-pol...concerns-after-us-security-probe-8449667

[whatnext]

From BIV today:

Port of Vancouver boasts record cargo volume, despite strike and cooling economy
Record cargo volume rolled through the Port of Vancouver last year, despite a sputtering global economy and a big drop in container shipments. An unprecedented 150.
Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press
about an hour ago

Record cargo volume rolled through the Port of Vancouver last year, despite a sputtering global economy and a big drop in container shipments.

An unprecedented 150.4 million tonnes of bulk, breakbulk and container goods traversed the docks at the country’s largest port, a six per cent increase over the previous year, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority said.

Bulk exports — grain and petroleum, especially — as well as container exports and auto imports drove the increase. However, overstocked retail inventories and cooling demand dragged down container imports — and container shipments overall — the federal agency said.....

https://www.biv.com/news/port-of-vancouv...spite-strike-and-cooling-economy-8495330

[whatnext]

WTF does the conflict in the Middle East have to do with the Port of Vancouver? Why can't there just be a blanket injunction against this type of nonsense?

Pro-Palestinian protesters block access to container port in Metro Vancouver
DELTA, B.C. — Pro-Palestinian protesters have blocked access to a major container port terminal in Metro Vancouver.
Canadian Press

DELTA, B.C. — Pro-Palestinian protesters have blocked access to a major container port terminal in Metro Vancouver.

Terminal operator GCT Canada says "illegal protesters' actions are causing an unsafe situation" as truckers that try to access the Deltaport facility are being held on the Roberts Bank causeway.

GCT spokesman Marko Dekovic says in a statement that the company is calling on police to take action and return Deltaport to normal operations, as the protest is "severely impacting" the terminal's ability to operate.

The Delta Police Department says its officers are at the scene "liaising" with protesters and are working to restore use of the roadway as soon as possible.

Protesters are calling the event "People's Picket for Palestine," and say in a statement the demonstration is co-ordinated with protests around the world aimed at blocking "major choke points in the economy" to cause "the most economic impact."....

https://www.biv.com/news/economy-law-pol...ontainer-port-in-metro-vancouver-8602360

[jollyburger]

And that is why we don't discuss politics on here.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by whatnext

WTF does the conflict in the Middle East have to do with the Port of Vancouver? Why can't there just be a blanket injunction against this type of nonsense?

Pro-Palestinian protesters block access to container port in Metro Vancouver
DELTA, B.C. — Pro-Palestinian protesters have blocked access to a major container port terminal in Metro Vancouver.
Canadian Press

DELTA, B.C. — Pro-Palestinian protesters have blocked access to a major container port terminal in Metro Vancouver.

Terminal operator GCT Canada says "illegal protesters' actions are causing an unsafe situation" as truckers that try to access the Deltaport facility are being held on the Roberts Bank causeway.

GCT spokesman Marko Dekovic says in a statement that the company is calling on police to take action and return Deltaport to normal operations, as the protest is "severely impacting" the terminal's ability to operate.

The Delta Police Department says its officers are at the scene "liaising" with protesters and are working to restore use of the roadway as soon as possible.

Protesters are calling the event "People's Picket for Palestine," and say in a statement the demonstration is co-ordinated with protests around the world aimed at blocking "major choke points in the economy" to cause "the most economic impact."....

https://www.biv.com/news/economy-law-pol...ontainer-port-in-metro-vancouver-8602360

The trucker convoy tried to block border crossings once... That went well for them.

[Dwils01]

Thank you to whoever cleaned that mess up. The language used there was horrible and has no place on this forum. I'm up for people to have open discussions but name calling like that should never be acceptable.

As for the port discussion, I don't think that blocking major port across the world is going to win over many people.

[jollyburger]

Some Canadian Navy ships are going to be at the Shipyards this weekend for Fleet Week. Horrible weather so maybe no lineups for tours?

[jollyburger]

Westshore Terminal coal conveyor on fire. They put out the fire.

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/12/28/delta-tsawwassen-fire-black-smoke-near-deltaport/

[Capitol Hill]

Has there been any more movement on a second cruise ship terminal in the Vancouver region?

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Capitol Hill

Has there been any more movement on a second cruise ship terminal in the Vancouver region?

Under the previous CEO there were various, somewhat vague, references to the Port examining both Roberts Bank, in Delta, and Richmond, for a possible future terminal. Those were identified as locations that could accommodate the new bigger cruise ships that won't fit under the Lion's Gate Bridge. There doesn't seem to be anything more in the past year.

[Capitol Hill]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Under the previous CEO there were various, somewhat vague, references to the Port examining both Roberts Bank, in Delta, and Richmond, for a possible future terminal. Those were identified as locations that could accommodate the new bigger cruise ships that won't fit under the Lion's Gate Bridge. There doesn't seem to be anything more in the past year.

Thanks for the response.

[jollyburger]

DP World, Gemini Cooperation partnership set to boost container traffic at Vancouver port

With Centerm currently running at around 900,000 20-foot containers annually, the partnership plans to grow to over a million containers by next year and grow beyond, DP World Canada CEO Douglas Smith told BIV.

DP World will also ensure Gemini’s operations are 90 per cent on time, with Smith adding the on-time world was lost during the pandemic.

The Gemini Cooperation, an agreement between Hapag-Lloyd AG and Maersk A/S, consists of a fleet of 340 vessels, 87 ports and a combined capacity of 3.7 million 20-foot containers (a unit of cargo capacity).

As the port operator, DP World will become a major stakeholder in the logistics chain, having to ensure readiness to unload and export, with rail services matching their timelines.

“We are one of a tri-party that has to come together and work,” said Smith. “If the rail isn't on time, or we're not ready, or the ship isn't on time, the whole thing falls apart.”

However, a key piece of the puzzle on the rail side is still pending.

The terminal’s semi-automated rail-mounted gantry cranes (RMGs) are finished but still not online, following what Smith described as union pushback and ongoing negotiations.

“It already operates at Delta terminal for the past five years with the same union that’s complaining to us,” he said. “It’s well-proven. It drives efficiency.”

Negotiations took longer than planned, he added. Nevertheless, they are in the plans and will go live.

https://www.biv.com/news/transportation/...ainer-traffic-at-vancouver-port-10049328

[officedweller]

Court upholds approval of B.C. port expansion despite risks to whales
https://www.biv.com/news/environment/cou...pansion-despite-risks-to-whales-10069295

[Capitol Hill]

I posted this in a different forum, but I thought it interesting:

For the 2025 cruise season:

The Port of Seattle has announced its preliminary 2025 cruise season schedule, which features 299 sailings to Alaska from Seattle on eight different cruise lines. The season kicks off April 12 and closes October 19, during which time an estimated 1.9 million passengers will sail out of Seattle.

Vancouver, B.C.: The first cruise ship of the season, the Disney Wonder, will dock at the Canada Place cruise terminal in Vancouver tomorrow, March 5—kicking off what is expected to be another strong season.

There are 301 cruise ship calls currently scheduled between March 5 and October 21, with more than 1.2 million passengers expected to pass through the cruise terminal in 2025, as Vancouver’s cruise sector stabilizes following several record seasons.

So Vancouver has two more sailings than Seattle, but is expected to have 700,000 fewer passengers. The clearance under The Lions Gate Bride is really suppressing the numbers. In 1999 Seattle had 6,000 cruise passengers.

[Lexus]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Court upholds approval of B.C. port expansion despite risks to whales
https://www.biv.com/news/environment/cou...pansion-despite-risks-to-whales-10069295

Great news! Especially in light of trade was with US!

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by Capitol Hill

I posted this in a different forum, but I thought it interesting:

For the 2025 cruise season:


So Vancouver has two more sailings than Seattle, but is expected to have 700,000 fewer passengers. The clearance under The Lions Gate Bride is really suppressing the numbers. In 1999 Seattle had 6,000 cruise passengers.

I wonder, how people are counted if a journey starts in Seattle and stops in Vancouver.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Capitol Hill

I posted this in a different forum, but I thought it interesting:

For the 2025 cruise season:


So Vancouver has two more sailings than Seattle, but is expected to have 700,000 fewer passengers. The clearance under The Lions Gate Bride is really suppressing the numbers. In 1999 Seattle had 6,000 cruise passengers.

Not just the bridge. Cunard moved their sailing to Seattle from Vancouver, somewhat inexplicably.

[madog222]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

I wonder, how people are counted if a journey starts in Seattle and stops in Vancouver.

Very few, if any, ships would do that. Though passenger numbers should be counted for both ports.

[officedweller]

When I took a cruise from Seattle in 2011, it stopped in Victoria, as the international port, not Vancouver, then went outside Vancouver Island, not through the inside passage.
Not sure if that US law requiring an international stop is still in effect.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Capitol Hill

I posted this in a different forum, but I thought it interesting:

For the 2025 cruise season:


So Vancouver has two more sailings than Seattle, but is expected to have 700,000 fewer passengers. The clearance under The Lions Gate Bride is really suppressing the numbers. In 1999 Seattle had 6,000 cruise passengers.

I was looking at another page for 2024 and it had this stat. What's the difference between revenue passengers and unique passengers.

275 sailings
1.7 million revenue passengers, which comes out to more than 800,000 unique passengers

https://www.portseattle.org/news/seattles-2024-cruise-season-kicks-25-years-sailing-alaska