July 19, 2010
The Saint John Port Authority has begun issuing tenders to ensure renovations to the Rodney Container Terminal begin as quickly as possible. It began doing so thanks to a recent funding agreement with the provincial government.
The announcement was made by Ed Doherty, Supply and Services Minister, Jack Keir, Energy Minister, Stephen Campbell, chairman, Saint John Port Authority and Gordon Cole, general manager, Tropical Shipping of Canada.
“This project will help the Port of Saint John provide even better service to the many shipping and trucking companies that depend on the port for business," said Mr. Doherty.
The tender is to replace and refurbish decking, piles and pile caps at the terminal, which is located on the west side of port property. Work is expected to begin in July. This tender represents about half of the $1.4-million project, which is expected to be completed by September 2011.
Premier Shawn Graham announced the provincial government’s agreement with the port authority during an address to the cruise industry in Saint John in June. The provincial government has agreed to invest $700,000 in the project, which next year will entail the replacement of asphalt on the port's west side access road and container terminal entrance.
Mr. Campbell said the renovations will make the Rodney Container Terminal a more attractive location for major container shipping lines and provide even more options to New Brunswick exporters and importers with direct access to global markets.
“Rodney Terminal at the Port of Saint John is New Brunswick’s only container terminal,” said Mr. Campbell. “We are confident this project will help attract new business and more work to the port, generating more spin-off benefits to the city and the province as a whole.”
The project is intended to improve the container terminal to the benefit of port users, including Saint John-based shipping and stevedoring companies as well as trucking interests province-wide.
“Tropical Shipping is pleased that both the Province of New Brunswick and the Saint John Port Authority are investing in improvements to the terminal,” said Mr. Cole. “This will help our company continue to provide a premium service for our customers shipping to and from Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.”