Source: rupertport.com
PRINCE RUPERT – A $100 million South Kaien Import Logistics Park (SKILP) will result in long-term economic benefits for the partners in the project, the Metlakalta Development Corporation (MDC) and the Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA), as well as local indigenous workers.
Designed to bolster intermodal trade, a portion of SKILP will host a logistics and warehousing complex that significantly expands and strengthens import transloading and related capabilities at the Port of Prince Rupert. Construction is underway in developing the 56 acres of flat, serviced industrial land in proximity to Fairview Terminal, CN Rail, and the recently announced CANXPORT facility.
“MDC acquired the South Kaien lands in fee simple in 2019. We envision these lands as an integral part of the Prince Rupert Gateway and other commercial uses,” says MDC CEO Harold Leighton. “However, SKILP is step one: MDC plans to develop the remaining 280 acres in subsequent phases to support regional growth and provide economic opportunities for the region and next generation of Metlakatla members.”
PRPA President and CEO Shaun Stevenson adds: “This valued partnership with Metlakatla Development Corporation reinforces our commitment to creating sustainable business opportunities that generate employment, economic, and social benefits for Indigenous peoples on the North Coast, while also strengthening import transloading and logistics capabilities, bringing greater flexibility, agility, and resilience to shipper supply chains at the Port of Prince Rupert.”
The majority of SKILP is pre-leased, with IntermodeX, an integrated intermodal services company and subsidiary of SSA Marine, as the anchor tenant. As Prince Rupert’s first major import logistics operator, IntermodeX will develop and operate the new 33-acre logistics and warehousing facilities, with operations starting in the first quarter of 2027. Another 23 acres remain available for tenants wanting access to a deep-sea port, CN rail line, provincial highway, and full-service intermodal gateway.
The primary construction contractor is Coast Tsimshian Northern Contractors Alliance (CTNCA), an Indigenous-led joint venture that includes Coast Tsimshian Enterprises and IDL Projects Inc. MDC received $43.3 million from the National Trade Corridors Fund to support the project. The Canada Infrastructure Bank has provided $60.9 million in financing through its Indigenous Community Infrastructure Initiative.
SKILP is a key component of the port’s fully integrated intermodal ecosystem that connects supply chain infrastructure within the growing gateway’s existing footprint.
The IntermodeX facility will complement the future operations at CANXPORT, a large-scale export transloading and logistics facility currently under construction on nearby Ridley Island. The two projects are designed to maximize efficiency and build greater competitive advantages for shippers, by reinforcing the balance of intermodal trade flowing through the Prince Rupert Gateway.
In other news, the PRPA announced that 23.1 million tonnes of cargo moved through the Port of Prince Rupert in 2024, a one percent decline compared to 2023, while intermodal volumes at DP World Prince Rupert’s Fairview Container Terminal rose five percent year-over-year.
PRPA noted that the performance was impacted by the realignment of carriers’ transpacific trade routes, two labour disruptions, and the brief suspension of rail service due to wildfire that paused terminal operations.
Strong demand for western Canadian energy products saw AltaGas’ Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal ship 2.3 million tonnes of liquified petroleum gas (LPG), representing a 15 percent increase year-over-year. Pembina’s Watson Island LPG Bulk Terminal handled 502,800 tonnes. Drax’s Westview Wood Pellet Terminal shipped 1.2 million tonnes of biofuel to markets in Europe and Asia.
Following a strong crop year, Prince Rupert Grain Terminal saw a 26 percent increase in exports, handling over 4.5 million tonnes of western Canadian agricultural products. Total coal export volumes fell 23 percent at Trigon Pacific Terminals, with metallurgical and thermal coal exports down 29 and 22 percent.
Cruise passenger volumes decreased 27 percent compared to 2023, with over 59,400 cruise passengers transiting through Prince Rupert in 2024.
“The 2024 results highlight the critical nature of the ongoing projects that will advance Prince Rupert as a full-service port and affirm our position as a key player in global trade and energy security,” says Stevenson. “An historic period of expansion is taking place at the Port of Prince Rupert, and 2024 was a pivotal year of development as we made strides towards enhancing services, capacity, and capabilities and diversifying markets to maintain our competitive edge and support our trade partners.”
Business Examiner Staff
