The Port of Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada, has set a new record: “for the first time crossing the 600,000 [twenty-foot equivalent units] annual throughput threshold.”
Halifax, along with the Port of Saint John in New Brunswick, is competing with other eastern coastal ports along North America’s east coast to handle more cargo. Through Canadian railway CN (NYSE: CNI), Halifax has access to eastern Canada and the United States Midwest, including Montreal, Toronto, and Chicago.
Halifax Port Authority President and CEO Capt. Allan Gray attributed the increase in throughput volume last year to collaboration between PSA Halifax, CN, the port authority, union members, and others. In 2022, Halifax moved 601,700 TEUs through its two containerized cargo terminals, PSA Halifax Atlantic Hub and PSA Halifax Fairview Cove. The port can also accommodate ships with carrying capacities of up to 16,000 TEUs.
“In 2022, we began using the Joint Operation Centre for containerized cargo operations, which helped us find new efficiencies and maintain cargo fluidity with no vessel berthing delays during a second year of sustained supply chain disruptions,” Gray said in a news release on Wednesday.
In 2022, the Canadian government will invest CA$ 7 million ($5.4 million) in the port to build a $15 million marine container examination facility, which it claims will significantly reduce inspection turnaround times and port congestion.
The port anticipates the arrival of two additional super post-Panamax cranes and new yard handling equipment in 2023 at PSA Halifax Atlantic Hub. Projects to expand yard handling space are also in the works.
