Port Vancouver - Trade & Shipping

Stakeholder Information

The Vancouver Port Authority facilitates several Stakeholder Committees to improve the flow of goods within the Vancouver Gateway.

The Stakeholders Working Group on Container Traffic is responsible for proactively improving communications between stakeholders involved in the container business in the Port of Vancouver by increasing the efficiency of terminal and trucking operations. In achieving its goal, the committee must improve communications to all stakeholders, be cost effective, prevent port shutdowns, be fair, extend operating hours and manage peak periods. Committee members include ocean carriers, terminal operators, off-dock terminal operators, trucking companies, rail carriers, general merchandise shippers, freight forwarders, forest product shippers and the VPA.

The Container Rail Operations Committee addresses systemic operational challenges the Port of Vancouver faces or will face in the future regarding the movement of containers into and out of the Port by rail. Committee members include rail carriers, rail service providers, terminal operators and the VPA.

The Container Terminal Scheduling System (CTS) Committee reviews, studies and proposes possible improvements to truck appointment systems utilized by VPA container terminal operators to ensure the maximization of transactions and turn-around times for container carriers and to standardize protocols between container terminals. Committee members include trucking companies, terminal operators and the VPA.

The Empty Container Dynamics Study (ECDS) Committee focuses on and develops a plan to ensure sufficient off-dock capacity (rail and truck) exists to efficiently accommodate implementation of the on-dock repositioned empty container reduction strategy. The committee also analyzes existing off-dock truck and rail empty container capacity, identifies capacity requirements and geographical options for adding capacity to meet projected requirements, and promotes and facilitates appropriate private or public sector involvement in adding capacity. Committee members include terminal operators, off-dock terminal operators, ocean carriers, trucking companies, rail carriers and the VPA.

VPA Symposium

On May 31, 2007, the Vancouver Port Authority in conjunction with TSI Terminal Systems Inc., CPR and CN held a meeting with Eastern Canada port customers to review the conditions that led to the 2006 winter backlogs and to present and implement a supply chain-wide contingency plan designed to preserve the fluidity and efficiency of the gateway.

Presenters at the stakeholder meeting included Norman Stark, President and CEO, TSI - Terminal Systems Inc.; Albert Nashman, Assistant VP, Intermodal Operations, CN; Elaine Holmes, Director, International, CPR; and Scott Galloway, Director,Trade Development, VPA. Presentations are listed below in PDF format.