By Ian Holmes

New $44M terminal ‘reinforces Nanaimo’s position’ as shipping hub

Jun 12, 2017 | 2:06 PM

NANAIMO — A sizeable capital investment in Nanaimo is a sign of confidence in the local short-sea shipping business, according to a major industry player.

On Monday morning, Seaspan Ferries officially unveilled its revamped and expanded Duke Point Terminal, valued by the company at $44 million.

Seaspan ULC CEO Frank Butzelaar told NanaimoNewsNOW consolidating their operation from the Port Drive location to Duke Point is a sign of certainty in the mid-island market.

“It certainly reinforces Nanaimo’s position as the hub of Vancouer Island,” Butzelaar said. “The central island location in this facility has great access to points north and points south on the Island Highway.”

Seaspan reported it has two new liquified natural gas fuelled vessels in place to serve their 18-acre, multi-berth Duke Point site. Butzelaar noted Seaspan Ferries ships goods between Nanaimo, Delta and Surrey.

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Data supplied to NanaimoNewsNOW by the Nanaimo Port Authority showed sea-based shipping in Nanaimo has been on a steady incline over the past several years. The port calculated nearly 5,400 metric tonnes of goods shipped in and out of Nanaimo in 2016, compared to about 2,360 in 2010.

Meantime, the City of Nanaimo hopes to finalize acquiring nine acres of right-of-way from Seaspan’s former Port Drive location beside the cruise ship terminal by the end of the year. Butzelaar would not comment on when that deal would be finalized, but said negotiations are progressing.

“The City’s been nothing but open and transparent with us and I think we’ve got the makings of a solution that the City is going to like.”

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes