The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is expanding a centralized scheduling system for marine traffic to cover the entire Burrard Inlet. This aims to improve safety and efficiency in this crucial Canadian trade route, according to the Port Of Vancouver.
Centralized Scheduling System
The system allows the port authority to take an active role in sequencing commercial ship movements in Burrard Inlet—which is home to 23 of the Port of Vancouver’s 29 major terminals, receives almost two-thirds of the port’s deep-sea ship traffic, and supports more than $105 billion of annual goods movement.
Co-developed with DHI SeaPort OPX, the centralized scheduling system integrates advanced digital modeling such as weather forecasts and tides to help plan and optimize commercial ship movements in high-traffic areas of the Vancouver harbor. It is expected to help coordinate more than 5,000 movements of cargo vessels, cruise ships and tugs pulling barges every year—with up to 20 daily transits under the Lions Gate Bridge in times of peak demand.
The system will also enhance the visibility of marine movements in Burrard Inlet—enabling better coordination among port users and allowing ship, terminal, and rail bridge operators to foresee demand and optimize operations. This includes providing visibility over ship transits through the Second Narrows rail crossing, and creating opportunities for CN to enhance rail service capacity and reliability for the North Shore trade corridor. In 2023, North Shore terminals moved about 30% of the port’s overall cargo by volume including 50% of its grain exports.
The centralized scheduling system is a key pillar of the port authority-led Active Vessel Traffic Management Program and was initially rolled out in eastern Burrard Inlet in October 2023, supporting sequencing of cargo ships, tugs and barges visiting the six marine terminals east of the Second Narrows rail bridge such as bulk exporters Pacific Coast Terminals (PCT) and Trans Mountain.
More than $105 billion of goods including bulk exports like grain and fertilizer, containerized trade, and breakbulk cargo like forestry products and construction steel moved through Burrard Inlet in 2023, while cruise ships made 332 calls to the Canada Place terminal. Almost 2,000 of the approximately 3,000 deep-sea ship visits the port receives each year move through Burrard Inlet.
Did you subscribe to our daily Newsletter?
It’s Free Click here to Subscribe!
Source: Port Of Vancouver
