Backhaul boosts quarterly 87pc rise in Prince Rupert TEU surge

BRITISH COLUMBIA`s Port of Prince Rupert quarterly container volume surged 87.3 per cent to 76,860-TEU while overall cargo through the port during the same three-month period rose 72.8 per cent year on year.
Port president and CEO Don Krusel said it had been harbour`s best performance since 1997, and was evidence of customer confidence in Prince Rupert and was attributed to an increase in backhaul volume to China.
"The increase in Canadian exports demonstrates the value of the Prince Rupert Gateway to the northwest transportation corridor, as well as validates the concerted efforts of the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative partners who have been tirelessly promoting the gateway and western Canadian commodities to Asia."
The recent upgrading of CKYH Alliance`s weekly CEN services to six 7,500 TEU ships from its previous 5,500 TEU vessels to call at the port is a further indication of the hub`s importance on the northwest trade corridor for ships heading to US west coast ports.
The intermodal facility at Fairview Container Terminal`s rail yard benefits from Canada National Railway`s (CN) partnership and its mainline to Prince Rupert. It is the only railroad with a network reach to all three coasts that also connects to the major North American hubs.