Port operations update

July 17, 2023

To Port of Vancouver’s valued customers and stakeholders:

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Canada and the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) reached a tentative agreement, July 13, 2023. The four-year agreement is subject to ratification by both parties. ILWU labour returned to work effective 1630 PST, July 13.

The port authority is implementing a recovery plan in coordination with industry partners including shipping lines, rail companies, and marine terminals. Recovery measures include close collaboration and monitoring to ensure port resources are assigned to best support time-sensitive cargo movement and ensure equitable distribution of shared resources.

Marine operations:  A priority-based anchorage allocation system is in place to balance the needs of all business sectors and commodities to restore full port operations and fluidity.

Port of Vancouver anchorage occupation (July 17, 2023 – 0600 am PST):

  • Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (English Bay, inner habour, Indian Arm):  56%
  • Southern Gulf Islands:  50%

Container vessels (July 17)

  • Four container vessels at berth, two at anchor and 10 awaiting entry into the port’s jurisdiction.
  • To view the Container Vessel Line-Up Report that includes vessels at anchor and dwelling outside of port authority waters, please visit our port dashboard here.

Vessels in port can be viewed on the home page of the PortVan eHub app by selecting “Vessels in Port” via the port authority’s mobile app. Download from the port authority’s website (eHub) or through the App Store (search for “PortVan eHub” or “Port of Vancouver”).

Rail operations:  CN and CPKC (previously CP) resumed rail operations impacted by labour action at the port. Both railways have removed embargos on cargo destined to the Port of Vancouver. Please contact your railway directly for specific details regarding embargoed cargo, empties and destinations.

Port of Vancouver rail production (July 17):

  • Container terminal rail production (updated reporting): 
    • Jul 15 = 43,266 ft
    • Jul 16 = 60,467 ft
    • Jul 17 = 60,788 ft
  • Container import on-dock footage:  258,549 ft

Truck operations: Trucks are operating under normal conditions at all four container terminals.

Port of Vancouver truck activity (July 17):

  • Container truck reservations:  2,088

We will continue to monitor the situation and keep you informed of new developments as they arise.

Resources:

  • Information Bulletins: Operations Updates
  • Port import rail on-dock footage summary: Import Rail On-dock Footage (updated daily Monday-Friday)
  • PortVan eHub app: access real-time insights into Port of Vancouver operations via the port authority’s mobile app eHub.  Download from the port authority’s website (eHub) or through the App Store (search for “PortVan eHub” or “Port of Vancouver”)
  • Port dashboard: view updates on import rail performance, truck terminal turn times, gateway vessel on-time performance, and container vessels at anchor/berth through the port authority’s website (Performance Metrics).

We have reduced the daily operations updates to three times per week (Mon, Wed, Fri). The updates will continue to include port production metrics. Once recovery production volumes stabilize, operations updates will only be sent on an as-needed basis.