GCT Canada LP | Intermodal Yard Reconfiguration Project

July 13, 2015

Project status

Permit issued

On October 8, 2015, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority issued a project permit (PP 2015-029) to Global Container Terminals (GCT) Canada Limited Partnership to reconfigure GCT Deltaport container terminal’s intermodal yard, including adding/replacing new container handling equipment, construction of a new rail maintenance facility building, as well as associated infrastructure upgrades at the facility.

About the project

In May 2015, GCT Canada submitted a project permit application to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority to reconfigure the existing intermodal yard within the existing footprint. The Project proposed new container handling equipment, as well as constructing a new rail maintenance building and associated infrastructure upgrades at the GCT Deltaport container terminal.

This privately-funded component of the multi-phased Deltaport Terminal, Road and Rail Improvement Project (DTRRIP) is a collaboration amongst the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and Federal and Provincial governments, which consists of a series of improvements to the existing facility at Roberts Bank, Delta, British Columbia. The increase in container handling capacity remains the same as the original intermodal yard concept that was included in the approved environmental assessment for DTRRIP.

The proposed development includes combining the existing two sets of four rail tracks at the terminal into one set of eight tracks, reconfiguring internal vehicle circulation and parking within the terminal and replacing the seven existing 10 to 20 year old manually-operated container cranes within the rail intermodal yard with eight, remotely-operated, modern wide-span container cranes.

The objective of the project is to enable greater efficiencies in terminal operation allowing the existing marine container terminal to handle an additional 600,000 twenty-foot containers (TEUs) annually to achieve an overall maximum throughput of 2.4 million TEUs per year within the existing terminal footprint. Trains arrive and depart from the terminal every hour of the current 24 hours-per-day, seven days-per week operation. The Project aims to improve workplace safety by removing as many workforce personal as possible from the intermodal yard, introducing more efficient equipment and processes, as well as optimizing internal traffic flow, which will eliminate terminal tractor blockages.

The application also includes the addition of a rail maintenance building on the west side of terminal POD 3 to service rail container handling equipment, a smaller truck portal building, as well as demolition of two sheds within the terminal.

The project design introduces environmental protection and mitigation measures including electric container handling equipment, optimized routing minimizing equipment idling, and downlit LED lighting that ensures environmental impacts are minimized.

As part of the application process, GCT Canada was required to undertake municipal and community engagement for this application. Specifics of the proposed project include:

reconfiguration of eight (8) intermodal rail tracks within the terminal, the existing eight (8) rail tracks that are currently arranged in two (2) distinct sets of four (4) tracks are proposed to be combined into one set of eight (8) tracks
removal of seven (7) existing, electric, manually-operated rail mounted container cranes in the intermodal yard
installation of eight (8) new, remotely-operated, electric modern wide span rail mounted container cranes
construction of a new 4000 m² (42,300 ft²) rail maintenance building on the west side of terminal POD 3. The proposed rail maintenance building will be 15 m (48.0 ft) high to service container handling equipment and house GCT Canada workforce
construction of a truck portal building with two drive-through lanes in the intermodal yard. The proposed truck portal building will be 8 m (25.0 ft) high and will scan trucks entering the yard
replacement of existing site lighting within the intermodal yard with energy efficient LED light fixtures. Two (2) existing high mast light poles to be relocated and four (4) existing low mast light poles having flood lamps to be replaced with high mast poles having LED light fixtures to provide greater uniformity of light at ground level within the intermodal yard and reduce light glare
no new connections and utility services are proposed. Modification of existing water, sewer, stormwater and electrical utilities are proposed inside the terminal
road access within the terminal would be reconfigured including access to both the intermodal yard as well as to the new rail maintenance facility and adjacent areas in the terminal
demolition of one (1) existing air compressor shed approximately 38 m² (400.0 ft²) and one (1) 2.0 m² (19.7-foot ft²) in-gate driver shed
153 passenger vehicle parking spaces are proposed for the new maintenance facility
container transfer staging area consisting of 203 truck parking spaces and 14 overflow parking spaces along the length of the working track within the reconfigured intermodal yard
two (2) temporary rail tracks will be installed in the intermodal yard and will operate during the construction period to maintain terminal operations while the new intermodal yard is being constructed
new train portal will be installed at the terminal for identification of rail cars arriving at the facility

Construction will take approximately 30 months to complete, with expected completion by Q4 2019.

Resources

Consultation materials

July 2015 (revised September 2015) – Engagement Summary Report: Global Container Terminals Canada Intermodal Yard Reconfiguration [PDF]
July 2015 – Input Consideration Report: Global Container Terminals Canada Intermodal Yard Reconfiguration [PDF]
June 2015 – Open House Display Boards: Global Container Terminals Canada Intermodal Yard Reconfiguration [PDF]
June 2015 – Open House Fact Sheet: Global Container Terminals Canada Intermodal Yard Reconfiguration [PDF]

Contact information

To learn more about GCT Canada’s project, please contact Louanne Wong, GCT Canada Limited Partnership at 604.267.5200.

For questions regarding the port authority’s Project and Environmental Review process, please contact us by email or phone at 604.665.9570.