Introduction.

While the beginning of 2020 has proven to be an unprecedented time of uncertainty and challenge to the Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) and the world, it has also served as a validation of the direction PRPA continued to pursue through 2019 to ensure a resilient and competitive enterprise. We are confident that PRPA, and its successful track record of building a better Canada by growing global trade, will continue to be Canada’s leading edge.

Shaun Stevenson President & CEO

Frans Tjallingi Board Chair

Vigorous Trade.
Thriving Communities.
Sustainable Development

While the beginning of 2020 has proven to be an unprecedented time of uncertainty and challenge to the Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) and the world, it has also served as a validation of the direction PRPA continued to pursue through 2019 to ensure a resilient and competitive enterprise. We are confident that PRPA, and its successful track record of building a better Canada by growing global trade, will continue to be Canada’s leading edge.

The Prince Rupert Advantage

Prince Rupert has a magnified impact on global trade for a community of 12,000 people. The reasons for this start with the geography of our harbour. When connecting North America to the Asia Pacific, no other port can match Prince Rupert’s natural advantages.

Perfect position

Prince Rupert is 1-2 days closer to Asia than any other West Coast port. That means less fuel, less risk, and more reliable performance

Direct Access

Following a shorter transit across the Pacific Ocean, commercial vessels and their cargoes enjoy safe, efficient access to Prince Rupert's world-class terminals.

Room to Grow

Prince Rupert is home to the deepest natural harbour in North America and is among the deepest in the world. It remains ice-free year-round. Combined with direct access to trans-Pacific shipping lanes, we have room to safely manage growth.

Efficient Reach

CN's rail network offers premium reach into North America’s resource economies and consumer markets, while on the flattest available grade through the Rockies.

Building on those advantages, the Port of Prince Rupert and its partners have created a track record of excellence in Trade, Community Impact, Safety, and Sustainability.

• Year in Numbers
• Performance
• 2019 Major Projects

12%

12% growth in port-wide volume to a record 29.79 million tonnes

17%

17% growth in container volume handled

18%

18% growth in total volume handled at Ridley Terminals Inc.

1%

1% growth in bulk grain export volume

9%

9% decrease in wood pellets export volume

64,9000 tonnes

+649,000 tonnes in new LPG propane volumes at RIPET

Container Terminal Master Plan

The Prince Rupert Port Authority’s container master plan, completed in spring 2019, identified the long-term feasibility to develop in excess of in excess of 6 million TEUs of capacity through the development of multiple terminals at the Port of Prince Rupert. The research concluded there is potential for further expansion of Fairview Container Terminal and the development of a second container terminal on South Kaien Island. Both the existing Fairview Terminal and South Kaien sites are in close proximity to the proposed expansion of import and export logistics operations on Ridley Island, and will fully integrate with these facilities once the Fairview-Ridley Connector Corridor construction is complete.

Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal Commissioning

The Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal (RIPET) marked its grand opening in May 2019 with its first trans-Pacific shipment of liquid propane. Owned and operated by AltaGas, RIPET is Canada’s first marine export facility for propane, providing new access to the global market for Canadian natural gas producers.  The terminal offloads and stores propane delivered by rail from BC and Alberta, transfers it to vessel via RTI’s existing marine berth, and ships it on specialized LPG marine carriers. An estimated 1.2 million tonnes of propane will be shipped from RIPET to customers in Asia on an annual basis.

Federal Government Invests $150 million in Infrastructure

Through the National Trade Corridors Fund (NTCF), in 2019 the Government of Canada invested $153.7 million in three key infrastructure projects that will provide increased capacity, capabilities and resiliency to the Port of Prince Rupert. PRPA and CN were jointly awarded $60.6 million for the Zanardi Bridge and Causeway project, which will expand rail capacity into the Gateway and reduce operational conflicts.. $49.9 million was earmarked for the expansion of the Road Rail Utility Corridor to service the proposed Ridley Island Export Logistics Platform project. The Metlakatla Import Logistics Park received $43.3 million towards construction of a 25-hectare site on South Kaien Island.

Fairview-Ridley Connector Corridor

Work began in May 2019 on PRPA’s $115 million dollar Fairview-Ridley Connector Corridor project, with construction led by the Coast Tsimshian Northern Contractors Alliance, a local First Nations joint venture. The 5-kilometer route linking Fairview Container Terminal and Ridley Island will eliminate container truck traffic through in downtown Prince Rupert, as well as provide a platform for two new rail sidings, ultimately improving the efficiency of port logistics and significantly reducing the impact of port traffic on local infrastructure, environment, and residents. The project is slated for completion in Q2 2021.

Building Economic Prosperity

Natural attributes paired with industry-leading innovation and efficiency have translated into years of solid performance for Prince Rupert—and the promise for much more in the years to come.

• Economic Impact
• 2019 Trade Stories

$50 billion

$50 billion in trade moved through the port

$1.5 billion

$1.5 billion in economic activity generated in northern British Columbia

3,600 direct jobs

3,600 direct jobs in port-related businesses

$125 million

$125 million in government revenues, including $9 million for local governments

Fairview Terminal Delivers Another Record Year

DP World’s Fairview Container Terminal handled the largest annual volume of cargo to-date, reaching a record of over 1.2 million TEUs at an increase of 17% over 2018. The Terminal, and intermodal volumes in general, have seen substantial year-over-year growth since the container business began in Prince Rupert in 2007. Consistent record-breaking annual volumes confirms the Port’s critical role in Canadian trade.

Prince Rupert Grain Holds Steady

The Prince Rupert Grain Terminal continued to handle strong volumes of Canadian grain from producers across the Prairies, supporting thousands of jobs in Canada’s agri-food sector. Overall bulk shipment volumes increased slightly in 2019, with over 5.5 million tonnes of total throughput, agricultural products remain a strong sector for the Port of Prince Rupert.

Westview Terminal Experiences Decline

The terminal saw its first year of decline in 6 years with a decrease of 9%. 1.1 million tonnes of biofuel shipped through Westview Terminal to Europe and Asia. The decrease in volume is attributed to an interruption to operation at Pinnacle Renewable Energy’s Entwistle facility, which impacted wood pellet production. In 2019, Pinnacle Renewable Energy entered into a long-term contract with Sumitomo Corporation, supplying 200,000 tonnes/year of wood pellets to Japan starting in 2022.

Ray-Mont Logistics Expands Operations

In 2019 Ray-Mont Logistics announced a plastic pellet export facility in Prince Rupert which commenced operations later in the year. The new facility bags plastic pellets in containers and ships them out of the Port of Prince Rupert giving Alberta producers direct access to shipping lines accessing the global market. Ray-Mont Logistics’ agriculture transload facility on Ridley Island continues to contribute to the growth of exports through the Fairview Container Terminal.

Ridley Terminals Inc. Increases Cargo Levels

Ridley Terminals saw significant growth in coal volume throughput and recorded an increase of 10% over dry bulk volumes from the previous year. In combination with new LPG volumes from Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal, RTI’s berth recorded a total 18% annual growth in volume. The sale of the terminal from the Government of Canada to a private sector consortium that included local First Nations was concluded in December 2019.

Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal a First for Canada

The first marine export facility for propane in Canada, AltaGas’ Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal (RIPET) handled 648,569 tonnes of LP Gas in its first year of operations. The terminal leverages CN’s existing railway network, and the deepest harbour in North America to offer Canada’s natural gas producers’ direct access to international markets and a 15-day shipping advantage versus the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Cruise Sees an Increase

Prince Rupert’s Northland Cruise Terminal saw a year-over-year increase in passenger volumes of 35%, totalling over 12,400 visitors to Prince Rupert through cruise travel. Prince Rupert remains an attractive port of call for premium and luxury cruise lines due to our authentic visitor experiences and reliable access to wildlife. The shore excursion program generated over $575,000 in revenue last season for local tour providers

Operational Excellence

A coordinated effort between the Prince Rupert Port Authority and its many partners ensures management over every vessel, ensuring round-the-clock safeguards. The result has been the evolution of a global reputation for navigational safety. As the number of vessels calling on the Port continues to grow, maintaining that reputation continues to be a top priority.

• Year in Numbers
• 2019 Safety Stories

553 vessel calls

533 vessel calls, an increase of 24 vessels from 2018

1,411 vessel movements

1,411 vessel movements by licensed BC Coast Pilots, up 118 from 2018

3,638 hours

3,638 hours of coverage over 365 days by the port Harbour Patrol vessel

0 vessel incidents

0 vessel incidents causing injury, environmental pollution or cargo loss

New Harbour Patrol Vessel Joins the Fleet

The AMWAAL and the harbour safety team that crew her are a mainstay of PRPA’s commitment to marine safety. The new harbour patrol vessel features industry-leading equipment including navigation, communications, surveillance, marine fire fighting and high-speed jet-drive maneuverability, all of which serve to greatly enhance PRPA’s marine safety capabilities. The name AMWAAL is derived from the Sm’algyax word meaning ‘prosperity’ and was chosen in consultation with Ts’msyen hereditary leaders and PRPA’s Board of Directors as a symbol of the shared, long-term community benefits that have resulted from port opportunities.

Emergency Response Gap Analysis

PRPA is committed to going above and beyond its regulatory duties to ensure the safe, secure, and environmentally responsible operations at the Port. PRPA initiated an Emergency Response Gap Analysis, reviewing existing emergency response capabilities at the Prince Rupert gateway. The ongoing audit identifies existing capabilities as well as opportunities and areas requiring improvement and will outline a strategy to implement the solutions, making a safe port even safer.

Marine Navigation Risk Assessment and Anchorage Review

PRPA places an emphasis on long-term planning, integrating activities and proactively defining and reducing risk. PRPA initiated an update of its Marine Navigational Risk Assessment, a quantitative risk assessment that considered current and future vessel activity, and estimates the baseline probability of incidents in the navigational approaches to the Port of Prince Rupert, including the identification of risk types and relevant potential mitigations. The ongoing assessment also includes an assessment of anchorages.

All-Port EOC Exercise

Providing an efficient and effective response to any emergency affecting Port-related operations is the goal of the Prince Rupert Port Authority’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). To maintain expertise, our EOC staff receive specialized emergency management training and participate in regular exercises designed to test emergency plans and procedures. On October 17, 2019 PRPA held a port-wide EOC exercise with participation from terminals, supply chain and marine partners, as well as local emergency response providers to collaborate and train with a port-specific exercise.

Responsible Growth

One trade we'll never make: exchanging our future for short-term gain. Our current success is rooted in decades of ambitious yet practical planning and is reflected in the careful consideration we apply to every project and program we activate. The result is a growing gateway that supports an extensive workforce, abundant opportunities and a robust regime of environmental safeguards.

• Responsible Growth Numbers
• 2019 Sustainability Stories

1.52 kg per tonne

1.52 kg per tonne of throughput of GHG intensities at port terminals

14% NOx Decrease

14% decrease in NOx intensities at port terminals since 2010

68% PM2.5 decrease

68% decrease in PM2.5 intensities since 2010

94% SOx decrease

94% decrease in SOx intensities at port terminals since 2010

0 exceedances

0 exceedances in port-related dust fall objectives

8 vessel calls

8 vessel calls meeting those noise reduction standards

20

20 water quality sampling sites rated with Excellent or Good classifications

Development Moratorium on Flora, Agnew and Horsey Banks

In early 2019, PRPA announced a land use decision that ensures the protection of important marine habitat within its jurisdiction. PRPA imposed a developmental moratorium on Flora, Agnew, and Horsey Banks that prohibits industrial development in the marine area adjacent to Lelu Island. PRPA recognizes that development with required mitigation in this marine area is challenging, and acknowledges there are lingering concerns and uncertainty related to how a development in this area may pose risk to the health and ecology of the Skeena River estuary and its role in supporting healthy salmon populations in the system. The moratorium will be formalized in an update to PRPA’s Land Use Plan, which began in 2019 and will be complete in 2020.

North Coast Cetacean Research Initiative

PRPA is a core partner in the North Coast Cetacean Research Initiative in Prince Rupert, in partnership with DP World, the Fisheries and Ocean Canada and Ocean Wise. Since 2014, the program has monitored, researched and developed conservation programs for marine mammal populations along the northern coast of BC.  The BC Cetacean Sightings Network recorded 1,387 citizen sightings in 2019 on the north coast, and fully launched the Whale Report Alert System in this region to ensure professional mariners are alerted to the presence of whales and enable them to undertake adaptive measures and reduce the potential for disturbance or collision.

Air Quality Monitoring

2019 marked the first full year of data gathered from the dedicated air quality monitoring station at Fairview Terminal. The Port continued to register levels of NOx, SOx and PMs far below provincial objectives. The real-time data from the station is publicly available through the BC Ministry of Environment website.

Environmental Stewardship 
Certification

The Prince Rupert Port Authority strives to affirm its environmental stewardship commitments through gaining third party certification from programs like Climate Smart and Green Marine. For the second consecutive year, PRPA  received Climate Smart certification for meeting the strict carbon neutrality targets set out by the BC program, which works with organizations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. PRPA also improved its standing with Green Marine, a program that measures environmental performance across the North American marine industry, by obtaining the highest possible rating for its waste management practices.

Pollution Tracker

A key component of steering the Port of Prince Rupert’s sustainability practices is tracking the impact of marine contaminants on aquatic life and habitats. In 2019, the Prince Rupert Port Authority, Gitxaala Nation, and Lax Kw'alaams Band collaborated with the Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Ocean Wise to collect shellfish and sediment samples from eleven sites in areas surrounding the Port of Prince Rupert. These samples will be compared to ones gathered in 2016, to better understand how pollution mitigation efforts are affecting the environment. Results from the study are expected to be released later in 2020.

Porpoise Harbour Artificial Reefs Milestone

2019 marked the fifth and final year of monitoring requirements for artificial reefs built in Porpoise Harbour as compensation for marine habitat loss caused by the Road Rail Utility Corridor development. These 40 intertidal reefs have shown tremendous progress since they were constructed, showing an abundance and diversity of algae, kelp, fish and invertebrates taking hold. Port development avoids environmental impact wherever possible, and when that cannot be fully achieved, compensation for habitat loss through habitat creation or restoration projects occurs. These habitat compensation projects, also known as ‘offsets’, are designed to exceed the productive capacity of the habitat they are impacting. This project is another great example of how effective these types of projects can be and PRPA plans to continue collecting data from these rocky reefs to further improve our understanding of successful marine colonization factors.

Commitment to Community

The success of our trade gateway results in continuous improvements to the health and cohesion of northwest British Columbia. We take pride in ensuring our operations reflect local values and that a significant portion of our resources are allocated back into our communities. To achieve this, we have created programs and initiatives that keep residents informed about port activities and provide funding and support to local organizations and projects that contribute to long-term community vitality.

• Year In Numbers
• Community Engagement
• Local Investments

$12.5 million

$12.5 Million Community Investment Fund commitment since 2009

$739 thousand

$739 Thousand invested into 9 completed community CIF projects

$1 million

$1 Million Skeena River Salmon Enhancement Program commitment

$161 thousand

$161 Thousand invested into 5 new SRSEP projects

$93 thousand

$93 Thousand donated to local youth and charitable organizations

27,324 visitors

27,324 Visitors to the Port Interpretive Centre

Skeena River Salmon Enhancement Program

PRPA launched the Skeena River Salmon Enhancement Program (SRSEP) in January 2019. $1 million was committed partner with regional organizations on projects that increase salmon stock productivity and the rehabilitation of critical habitat in the Skeena River watershed. Through the program, we have been successful in working with regional partners such as First Nations, non-governmental organizations, and community groups to support our common goal to protect and support Skeena River salmon. In 2019, PRPA approved over $161,000 towards the first five SRSEP projects.

Community Investment Fund

Each year PRPA dedicates a share of its net income to the Community Investment Fund in order to support community projects. The Community Investment Fund is celebrating 10 years of existence and has partnered with other dedicated local organization to develop over 75 new local and regional legacy projects that enhance the quality of life for residents in our local communities. Each of these projects fills an important role in supporting recreation, arts, healthcare, education, environment and other local values and activities.

Community Information Forum

PRPA continues to expand ways to maintain public transparency, open dialogue and understanding around port activities. Community Information Forums have been one successful tool we have used to have valuable two-way conversations about port-related issues, and we have continued to expand that model to local Ts’ymsen audiences. In 2019, six Community Information Forums helped PRPA further engage with the unique perspectives of three local First Nations communities.

Vision 2030 Partnership

In 2019 PRPA was proud to be one of many port industry partners to invest and participate in Redesign Rupert’s Prince Rupert 2030 Vision. Designed as “Prince Rupert’s dream for its future”, The Prince Rupert 2030 Vision process engaged over 30 local organizations in a process to identify principles, intentions and actions necessary to grow a “vibrant city hosting a vibrant port”. PRPA recognizes the importance of ensuring of planning a sustainable community, and remains committed supporting on-going collaboration and initiatives needed to implement the vision over the decades to come.

Labour Market and Workforce Initiatives

As the port and the local business community continue to see economic opportunity, scarcity of labour supply has been identified by many businesses as a critical factor impacting their ability to continue to sustainably grow. PRPA worked with the City of Prince Rupert, economic  development agencies, local business organizations and port partners to research critical labour force data, create strategic plans, and develop labour recruitment assets and collateral needed to collaboratively launch programs in 2020 to better develop, recruit, and retain local employees.

2019 PRPA Land Use Planning Update

PRPA began the process of reviewing its Land Use Plan that was last updated in 2010. The Land Use Plan is a vision for the port’s future development, and a strategic document that lays out PRPA’s approach to managing lands under its jurisdiction in order to fulfill its mandate to catalyze growth in Canada’s trade with the world, while reflecting its commitment to diversification, sustainable environmental stewardship, operational safety and heathy local communities. The process of updating the Land Use Plan has a significant public feedback component, and will be finalized in 2020.

Terrace Search and Rescue Command Centre

PRPA contributed $100,000 into building a new Search and Rescue Emergency Operations Centre in Terrace, BC. As a regional hub for emergency response along the Skeena River and northwest BC terrain, we partnered with the Terrace Search and Rescue Society (TSAR) to build a dedicated, modern emergency response facility to house search and rescue operations, store specialized equipment, and host training courses.

Massett Marine Rescue Society 

PRPA contributed $116,121 to the purchase of a new fast-response search and rescue vessel for the Massett Marine Rescue Society (MMRS). The vessel has significantly improved MMRS’s emergency response effectiveness and range off the coast of Haida Gwaii. At PRPA, we recognize the importance of marine search and rescue services play on our coast and we were pleased to invest into this critical service offered in Haida Gwaii.

Friendship House Community Kitchen 

PRPA invested $94,000 to complete a strategic renovation to the community kitchen and food bank facilities available at the Friendship House in Prince Rupert. Serving on average, over 16,000 families a year, The Friendship House Association of Prince Rupert fosters community and provides many support services through a variety of programs. Now transformed into a commercial grade community kitchen, the Friendship House offers healthy nutrition cooking classes, hosts youth catering, and provides a cooking facility for multicultural and community events.

Anne Neufeld Tot Park 

In partnership with the District of Port Edward PRPA contributed $75,000.00 to refurbishing the Anne Neufeld Tot Park in Port Edward. Valued at $150,000.00 the 8,000 square-foot park is centrally located and renewed with modern, and safe play equipment. The upgrade is now a popular destination for local kids and their families.

Lax Kw’alaams Rescue Society Equipment Upgrades

PRPA contributed $55,345.00 to critical search and rescue equipment upgrades for the Lax Kw’alaams Rescue Society. The Lax Kw’alaams Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCM-SAR) station 65’s equipment was out of date and in need of frequent repair causing downtime for the search and rescue team. By upgrading the engines and electronic equipment, the Rescue Society has improved incident response time and can now accommodate more complex potential future rescues. Marine safety is a core value at the PRPA and we are proud to support our local First Nations community of Lax Kw’alaams in their efforts to keep us all safe on the water.

Employing Fiscal Integrity

Sound financial management drives the responsible stewardship of our resources. Each year, the Prince Rupert Port Authority releases its financial statements. The bottom line? These figures detail our organization’s commitment to the sound and effective use of our assets, year after year.

• Year In Numbers
• Financials

$66,568,000

$66,568,000 Total Revenue

$39,881,000

$39,881,000 Total Expenses

$28,560,000

$28,560,000 Net Income

$318,751,000

$318,751,000 Total Assets

$13,572,000

$13,572,000 Capital Expenditures

Vigorous Trade.
Thriving Communities.
Sustainable Growth

The team at the Prince Rupert Port Authority continues to work to build a better Canada by growing trade. Thank you to our local communities, our shippers, supply chain partners, terminal operators, service contractors, and everyone else who made 2019 a success in each of those areas. A special thank you to the women and men at the terminals, on the water, and on the trains and trucks that are moving Canada’s trade through the Port of Prince Rupert. Together, we are Canada’s leading edge.

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