As previously announced, today PSA International Pte Ltd has completed the acquisition of Halterm from Macquarie Infrastructure Partners. This is a good news story for the port, as PSA is a terminal operator, and not simply an investment fund. PSA will work with Shippers, CN, and the port to increase business, and has extensive operations around the world.
PSA’s other Canadian facility is the Ashcroft Terminal, British Columbia’s largest inland port facility. Ashcroft Terminal is located approximately 300km east of the Port of Vancouver, close to the major highways, and offers unique rail connectivity to both Class 1 railroad lines – CN and CP
The port released the results of the public consultation they performed to solicit feedback on port expansion and how the port operates within the community. The consultation was conducted by Hill+Knowlton Strategies via a survey to two groups in March and April 2019.
Support
for port is strong, with the majority from both groups agreeing or
strongly agreeing that the port is important to the economy and quality
of life in the region. Among the groups, the rational for port expansion
is understood, and is supported by similar numbers of respondents.
Despite
some strong advocacy for moving Halterm to Dartmouth, survey
respondents favored the Halterm North expansion option over the move.
Halterm North would see the south end finger piers that make up the
ocean terminals infilled to add an additional berth. More than 50% of
respondents were indifferent or against moving to Dartmouth. Less than
31% were indifferent or against Halterm expansion.
The
respondents indicated their priority considerations regarding port
expansion were the impact on local neighborhoods, and access to road and
Rail. On the question of truck volume downtown, most felt it was an
issue, and there was strong support for reducing trucks, and expanding
rail to do so.
The
survey results are good news for the port. The port has some clear
direction, and support from the public. Expansion can be done, but the
port must also be a good neighbour. The recent
announcement on federal funding to remove trucks from the downtown and
enhancing rail service between the terminals was likely driven by the
port and the government taking survey feedback in this regard seriously.
The
Consultation consisted of two survey groups. The open group consisted
of anyone who wanted to fill out the survey online. 1,911 answered some
or all the survey questions. The majority of this group were working
age, and 23% identified as a downtown commuter. A second group, was a
demographically representative sample of 1012 participants from across
the province. 33% of this group was retired, and the age group tended to skew to age 45+. It was also 50% of HRM and 50% from the province at large.
As
would be expected, responses to the open survey were likely from
interested parties, but the results among both groups show the same
preferences overall.
Full results, and the expansion options can be viewed at www.portcityhfx.ca
The CMA-CGM Thames put in to pier 41 Saturday afternoon. the strong breeze had the vessel take 3 tugs to spin it around and back it into its birth.
though not the largest container ships to call in Halifax, CMA-CGM Thames and her class mates are the only vessels to have the forward bridge arrangement. Maersk Patras Was being worked at Pier 42.
It appears that the first block of the pier 42 expansion is complete, and work has started on the second. paint markings seem to indicate the new block is 22m in height, about 70′.
the blocks are slipformed, and once complete, will be towed into place and sunk. they will then be filled with aggregate to hold them in place, and capped with the pier top.
Work on the Halterm Expansion has moved to Pier 9. Dredging was completed at pier 9 Mid may, and the dump scows have been used to prepare the sea bed with coarse gravel loaded at pier 9. the Slip forming equipment is also now on site, and the first forms are being placed on the barge (above left). once the floor is cast, the outside walls and interior dividers will be cast by slip forming until the entire block is constructed. Once complete, it will be towed into place, and filler with gravel.
Halterm announced it has Procured the Equipment required to add another Crane unit – with options for a second.
The Equipment ordered, Includes a new SPPX Container crane, capable of reaching 24bays across, to be delivered in June 2020. 2 New RTG’s, and 9 new yard tractors and container chasis will support the crane in the terminal.
Delivery should coincide with the completion of the terminal expansion.
This week i talk about CN’s proposed acquisition of Halterm and why its a good fit with what the company is doing on the west coast.
RTG in use to unload rail cars at Fairview Cove
I Suggested that Doubling the number of tracks at Halterm from 4 to 8 would actually allow an entire train to be made up in the terminal. Right now, there are 2000′ of track at Pier 36, and 6000′ parallel to Pier 41/42. If those double tracks were doubled, and the equipment changed from Toplifts to RTG’s then there would be more then enough room to accommodate the increased capacity.
The expansion of Halterm is underway, with Ocean Construction removing the walkway from the existing pier. The new Caseons will butt up against the back, widening the pier, as well as extending it Seaward.
McNally construction appears to have won the dredging tender, as their tugs and scows have been arriving in town the past week.
CN Rail’s CEO told the financial post on Wednesday that it made an offer to buy Halterm from Macquarie Infrastructure. Macquarie Infrastructure bought the terminal in 2007 for 173 million.
CN wants to tern Halterm into the Prince Rupert of the east coast, and attempt to lure traffic from New York. CN’s rail network reaches extensively into the US, and has port access in the Gulf of Mexico.
this is the best possible terminal operator for halifax, is they want to fill their trains, and have the ability to market the terminal and lure new customers here.
