The Port of Montreal’s Viau Terminal will undergo a new construction phase to increase its handling capacity to 600,000 TEUs, the Montreal Port Authority (MPA) and LOGISTEC Corporation said.
The project, which is scheduled to be finished by December 2020, will complete the container terminal, which currently handles about 350,000 containers annually, according to the MPA. The first phase was completed in 2016.
This new phase will make it possible to add 250,000 TEUs to Viau Terminal’s current capacity, bringing it to 600,000 TEUs.
The project will enable the Port of Montreal to accommodate the anticipated growth in the container sector and reach its maximum capacity on the Island of Montreal, 2.1 million TEUs. The beneficial effects of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) on freight traffic, growing market internationalization, and regional and national economic vitality are among the factors that explain this positive dynamic, which shows no signs of slowing down.
Viau Terminal’s final phase is made possible through large investments from three partners: the MPA, LOGISTEC and the federal government.
LOGISTEC Corporation announced that Termont Montreal Inc. is investing $30 million in the final phase of this key infrastructure project that, in turn, will enable the development and growth of services for the world’s second largest shipping line, MSC, a longstanding partner of both Termont Montreal Inc. and the Port of Montreal.
“The increase in terminal capacity is coming at the right time for us. We applaud this announcement as it ensures the future growth of our services in Montreal,” said Sokat Shaikh, President and CEO of MSC Canada. “MSC has grown significantly by more than 10% a year for the past five years. This additional capacity at Viau Terminal will support such growth over the next two years. Then we will have to move on to the next step.”
Madeleine Paquin, President of Termont Montreal Inc., added: “The Port of Montreal is a hub and anchors our network. As MSC’s strategic partners, we are delighted to work with the Port of Montreal and support its expansion. This project reaffirms our commitment to Montreal and our determination to be efficient and reliable as a strategic gateway for Canadian trade. We are very pleased to have the support of the Government of Canada to continue to advance Montreal’s development. Since the signing of CETA, exporters and importers are already making the most of the new market access. The future is bright for Montreal!”
“Collaboration is at the heart of our business processes, as demonstrated by today’s announcement,” said Sylvie Vachon, President and CEO of the NPA. “We are pleased to be able to complete the Viau terminal project, a sign of the steady growth of the container market in Montreal, and to be able to count on the commitment of our valued partners who have been involved in this project from the start, the Government of Canada and LOGISTEC.”
