New federal funding is going towards potential expansion of the Port of Nanaimo to ease pressures on ports elsewhere. (Nanaimo Port Authority)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

PORT EXPANSION

Federal funding looks to boost cargo capacity at Port of Nanaimo

Mar 16, 2023 | 5:26 AM

NANAIMO — Upwards of $600,000 in federal funding is designed to ensure supply chains which run through the central Island remain unbroken.

Announced by transportation minister Omar Alghabra on Wednesday, March 15, the money will go to the Nanaimo Port Authority to investigate expansion of the Port and its operations.

Ian Marr, Port president and CEO, told NanaimoNewsNOW they’re currently studying how to best accommodate growing needs to ship goods from lumber to food and manufactured goods, on and off the Island.

“It looks at the whole impact of the possibility of the Port of Nanaimo servicing obviously the whole Island, part of the Lower Mainland and establishing a short sea shipping connection between here and the Lower Mainland.”

Marr added existing Port-owned land could be used for expansion, while other projects may require external partners more directly involved.

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It’s also hoped any development in Nanaimo will ease pressures in Vancouver.

The announcement from the federal government identified increasing container handling capacity in Nanaimo, an area of business which has held firm throughout the pandemic.

Marr said they’ve been busy with cargo which has helped offset loss of cruise ship visits in recent years.

“Our cargo facilities have been pretty consistent over that period of time. In the business we’re in, which has been predominately the lumber business but we have been moving containers for the last few years and they have maintained or increased slightly.”

He added regular travel between Vancouver and Nanaimo is also growing with a lot of product leaving the Island.

“We have containers coming the other way and moving through the yard here, so it does go both ways and it’s just increasing that business and as we look at the future making it green and viable for the Island.”

The federal government said port capacity is poised to be even more crucial in the years ahead with increased activity expected.

Funding comes from the National Trade Corridors Fund which is allocated $4.7 billion over 11 years, starting in 2017, for these types of projects.

“Canadian exporters rely on a strong supply chain, especially at hubs like the Port of Nanaimo,” Omar Alghabra, federal transport minister, said in a release. “Investments…will facilitate the movement of goods at the port, help the economy of the Pacific region grow, and create good jobs for Canadians.”

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