Fees and dues at the Port of Vancouver

As an arms-length federal agency that stewards the lands and waters of the Port of Vancouver, we are mandated to facilitate Canada’s trade objectives, ensuring goods are moved safely, while protecting the environment and considering local communities. As part of this role, we lease lands to the terminal operators who move cargo through the port.

Unlike many other ports around the world, our revenues come from tenant rents and port user fees rather than tax dollars. As is the case for all Canada Port Authorities, our fees are mandated under the Canada Marine Act to be fair and reasonable, and designed to ensure the port is competitive and the port authority is financially self-sufficient.

Fee schedule

The following fee schedule is applicable to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s jurisdiction:

Port of Vancouver fee document – effective January 1, 2024 [PDF]

Gateway Infrastructure Fee

For the past decade, funding from the federal government’s Asia Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative and the port authority has resulted in significant development of common-use infrastructure in and around the Port of Vancouver. Recognizing that many of the port’s industry stakeholders would benefit from these improvements, the port authority developed a cost-recovery model—the Gateway Infrastructure Fee—in consultation with stakeholders, including shipping associations and port operators. The fee enables the port authority to recover its pre-funding on behalf of industry from port users who are able to increase their operations as a result of the related projects.

The Gateway Infrastructure Program Advisory Committee was established in 2010. The committee is composed of individuals representing terminal operators, tenants, shippers, shipping lines, industry groups and the port. The committee provides feedback on the Gateway Infrastructure Fee, recommends options to communicate with port stakeholders about the fee, and reports back to the stakeholders they represent.

Overview – Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative
2021 Annual Report – Gateway Infrastructure Fee [PDF]

Gateway Infrastructure Fee 2

A new wave of common-use infrastructure projects is now underway to further improve the overall fluidity of the gateway with support from the federal government’s National Trade Corridors Fund. The Gateway Infrastructure Fee 2 (GIF2) is intended to enable the Port Authority to recover 90% of its associated costs from users who will benefit from and/or whose operations contribute to the need for infrastructure improvements. The port authority has undertaken consultation with industry regarding potential projects and the cost-recovery mechanism and structure.

Persons interested in obtaining background on GIF2 may write to:

Attn: Director, Trade Development
Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
100 The Pointe, 999 Canada Place
Vancouver, BC V6C 3T4 Canada 
Email: [email protected]   

Recent amendments

Our fees are amended regularly to reflect changes in port use, in accordance with Section 49 of the Canada Marine Act. We provide no less than 60 days’ notice when a new fee or a revision to existing wharfage, berthage, or harbour dues is proposed. Other fees or terms may be amended or revoked without prior notice.

December 15, 2023 – Proposed Port of Vancouver fee document – effective January 1, 2024 [PDF]

December 15, 2023 – Notice of Proposed 2024 Fee Amendments Gateway Infrastructure Fee 2 (GIF2) [PDF]
October 31, 2023 – Notice Proposed 2024 fee amendments [PDF]
October 31, 2023 – Proposed Port of Vancouver fee document – effective January 1, 2024 [PDF]
April 6, 2023 – Notice: Proposed 2024 cruise fee amendments [PDF]