Vancouver: The Vancouver Port Authority (VPA) applauds the decision by both sides to accept a non-binding mediated settlement to the week-long labour dispute between the Council of Marine Carriers and the Canadian Merchant Service Guild. "We thank both sides for realizing the serious impacts of this labour dispute and offer our gratitude to Federal Mediator Bill Lewis for his work to bring the two parties together," said Captain Gordon Houston, President and Chief Executive Officer, Vancouver Port Authority. "We look forward to an orderly return to work so we can begin our efforts to rebuild our reputation as a reliable place to do business."

In total, the labour dispute will have cost the Canadian economy $99 million in lost economic impacts. Each container ship is worth $7.5 million in economic impact to the Canadian economy. Each coal ship is worth $1.8 million.

As of today, nine container vessels have been diverted to the U.S. ports of Seattle and Tacoma due to the lack of tug services. Three others are currently considering diverting. Four coal ships remain at anchor in the Port of Vancouver and one at berth at Westshore. While port terminals in Burrard Inlet remain open with minimal impacts, terminals at Roberts Bank have been without tug services for a week. Roberts Bank is home to Deltaport, the Port of Vancouver's largest container terminal, and Westshore, the Port of Vancouver's largest coal terminal. Each container vessel generates 18 total jobs. Each coal ship generates four direct jobs. Due to diversions and lost activity, the labour dispute has resulted in the equivalent of 200 permanently lost jobs.


The Port of Vancouver is Canada's largest and most diversified port, trading $29 billion in goods with more than 90 trading economies each year. Port activities generate 62,000 jobs in total with $1.6 billion in Gross Domestic Product and $3.5 billion in economic output. Last year, 66.7 million tonnes were shipped through the Port of Vancouver.

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For more information, please contact:

Anne McMullin,
Director, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs
Vancouver Port Authority
(604) 665-9069 (office)
(604) 665-9073 (fax)
(604) 218-1403 (cellular)
anne.mcmullin@portvancouver.com

For more information:
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public_affairs@portvancouver.com