Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and Ashcroft Terminal Announce Strategic Partnership to Enhance Trade Corridor Resilience
Vancouver, B.C. — The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and Ashcroft Terminal Ltd. have officially entered into a letter of intent, establishing a long-term collaboration for the efficient transportation of Canadian imports and exports. This joint effort aims to invest in and construct rail infrastructure at Ashcroft Terminal, located 300 kilometers east of Vancouver, to alleviate congestion at the Port of Vancouver, foster capacity growth, and bolster resiliency within the vital Asia-Pacific Gateway trade corridor. The strategic partnership anticipates facilitating faster goods movement in Western Canada, ensuring more reliable access to essential products.
Ashcroft Terminal Ltd., as British Columbia’s largest inland port, will play a pivotal role by providing infrastructure for railcar storage and staging to enhance cargo fluidity along the Asia-Pacific Gateway Corridor. The implementation of this railcar storage program is expected to commence operations by fall 2024, offering numerous benefits, including:
- Accelerating goods delivery to market, minimizing delays.
- Future-proofing Western Canada’s supply chain against disruptions such as floods, wildfires, and labor shortages.
- Contributing to a reduced carbon footprint in Canadian supply chains.
Peter Xotta, Vice President of Operations and Supply Chain at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, expressed the importance of creating supply chain resiliency within the Vancouver Gateway. The partnership with Ashcroft Terminal presents an exciting opportunity to enhance port-related trade capacity and alleviate congestion, ultimately providing Canadians with more dependable access to goods.
Chris Shubert, CEO and Chief Commercial Officer at Ashcroft Terminal, emphasized the significance of the signed letter of intent in fortifying Western Canada’s supply chain. Ashcroft Terminal, strategically positioned and equipped to manage the new rail program, is poised to facilitate the fluid movement of Canada’s major economic drivers.
This collaboration aligns with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s commitment to increasing resiliency within the Port of Vancouver and strengthening Canada’s supply chain. As British Columbia’s largest inland port, Ashcroft Terminal, part of the PSA International network, has been steadily expanding infrastructure to enhance capacity and resiliency along the critical Asia-Pacific Gateway Corridor.
For more information, visit www.ashcroftterminal.com.
About the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and the Port of Vancouver:
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, a federal agency responsible for the Port of Vancouver’s shared stewardship, operates under the Canada Marine Act. With a mandate to facilitate Canada’s trade through the port while considering environmental and community concerns, the port authority oversees more than 16,000 hectares of water, over 1,500 hectares of land, and approximately 350 kilometers of shoreline. As Canada’s largest port and the third largest in North America by cargo tonnage, the Port of Vancouver enables trade with over 170 world economies, supporting 115,300 jobs, $7 billion in wages, and $11.9 billion in GDP across Canada.
