The Globe and Mail is running an interesting feature (see link at the bottom of this article) on the Pacific Gateway, Canada’s multi billion dollar transportation system that has been compared to the age of the St. Lawrence Seaway fifty years ago.
Marcus Gee, who is the Asia-Pacific reporter for the Globe has been doing some lengthy traveling of late, comparing port facilities in Canada with those of our North American competitors and with the burgeoning economies of Asia.
And while Prince Rupert takes much pride in it’s recently completed Fairview container Terminal, we’re but mere guppies at the moment, when compared to the world of the transportation whales.
Even Vancouver with its already in place infrastructure pales in comparison to a Chinese port such as Yangshan, near Shanghai, where workers are in the process of constructing a terminal destined to be the largest container handling facility in the world, and one that will have an anticipated 52 berths and will handle well over 25 million containers a year.
To provide some perspective on that number, Fairview with 1 berth, is designed to handle 500,000 containers a year, even with Phases II and III completed by 2012, we would still only be handling roughly 4 million containers a year, a little less than one sixth of the capacity of a massive facility such as Yangshan.
Numbers which the Chinese and a good number of Canadian industrial leaders feel indicates far too much timidity from Canada, as far as the world trade situation requires.
And that in effect is the theme of Mr. Gee’s article for the Globe, the impression in Canada is that with the Pacific Gateway, that we’re ready to take our place as a major transportation force in the world, but in reality we’re apparently still many years behind the curve that is already on the upswing.
Arthur DeFehr, co author of the recent report on the Pacific Gateway, says that Canada has a real chance to claim a stake on the lucrative world trade corridors, but that speed is of the essence. As the competition is already out of the gate making the moves that will not only secure their current trade but expand upon it.
From expanding western American and Mexican ports with increased infrastructure, through the melting of the Northwest Passage ice packs, to a widening of the Panama Canal for shipments through to the major ports of the American east coast, the world of transportation is changing even as we ponder our options in a sleepy little corner of North America.
Many suggest that Canada is offering a half hearted attempt to capitalize on the possibilities, this despite the many advantages which Canada has to offer from geography to transportation infrastructure already in place.
Marcus Gee, who is the Asia-Pacific reporter for the Globe has been doing some lengthy traveling of late, comparing port facilities in Canada with those of our North American competitors and with the burgeoning economies of Asia.
And while Prince Rupert takes much pride in it’s recently completed Fairview container Terminal, we’re but mere guppies at the moment, when compared to the world of the transportation whales.
Even Vancouver with its already in place infrastructure pales in comparison to a Chinese port such as Yangshan, near Shanghai, where workers are in the process of constructing a terminal destined to be the largest container handling facility in the world, and one that will have an anticipated 52 berths and will handle well over 25 million containers a year.
To provide some perspective on that number, Fairview with 1 berth, is designed to handle 500,000 containers a year, even with Phases II and III completed by 2012, we would still only be handling roughly 4 million containers a year, a little less than one sixth of the capacity of a massive facility such as Yangshan.
Numbers which the Chinese and a good number of Canadian industrial leaders feel indicates far too much timidity from Canada, as far as the world trade situation requires.
And that in effect is the theme of Mr. Gee’s article for the Globe, the impression in Canada is that with the Pacific Gateway, that we’re ready to take our place as a major transportation force in the world, but in reality we’re apparently still many years behind the curve that is already on the upswing.
Arthur DeFehr, co author of the recent report on the Pacific Gateway, says that Canada has a real chance to claim a stake on the lucrative world trade corridors, but that speed is of the essence. As the competition is already out of the gate making the moves that will not only secure their current trade but expand upon it.
From expanding western American and Mexican ports with increased infrastructure, through the melting of the Northwest Passage ice packs, to a widening of the Panama Canal for shipments through to the major ports of the American east coast, the world of transportation is changing even as we ponder our options in a sleepy little corner of North America.
Many suggest that Canada is offering a half hearted attempt to capitalize on the possibilities, this despite the many advantages which Canada has to offer from geography to transportation infrastructure already in place.
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Of course not everyone is on the same page when it comes to port development in British Columbia. In Vancouver there is a fair amount of controversy looming over future expansion of port facilities in Metro Vancouver, as outlined in this column from the Westcoaster, which suggests that the focus be moved on to Prince Rupert over Vancouver.
While Vancoouver ponders its next options, Gee in his Globe piece seems to suggest that those that dither too long in taking advantage of our opportunities, may find that we are very well be left behind when the ever increasing waves of trade wash ashore.
It’s a fascinating look at the growing importance of world trade for British Columbia, an importance that we’ve only just begun to comprehend here on the North Coast.
As a companion piece to the Globe and Mail article, CKNW’s Bill Good featured Gee on his talk show on Wednesday morning.
Mr. Gee provided some more background on the issue and took a number of calls from British Columbians eager to learn more about the expanding role British Columbia’s ports in world trade.
You can listen in to the segment of the show by tuning in to the station’s Audio Vault and selecting the 9-10 hour, Good interviewed Gee from 9:30- 10 am.
Globe and Mail--Marcus Gee--How Vancouver is missing the boat
CKNW—The Bill Good Show Audio Vault
While Vancoouver ponders its next options, Gee in his Globe piece seems to suggest that those that dither too long in taking advantage of our opportunities, may find that we are very well be left behind when the ever increasing waves of trade wash ashore.
It’s a fascinating look at the growing importance of world trade for British Columbia, an importance that we’ve only just begun to comprehend here on the North Coast.
As a companion piece to the Globe and Mail article, CKNW’s Bill Good featured Gee on his talk show on Wednesday morning.
Mr. Gee provided some more background on the issue and took a number of calls from British Columbians eager to learn more about the expanding role British Columbia’s ports in world trade.
You can listen in to the segment of the show by tuning in to the station’s Audio Vault and selecting the 9-10 hour, Good interviewed Gee from 9:30- 10 am.
Globe and Mail--Marcus Gee--How Vancouver is missing the boat
CKNW—The Bill Good Show Audio Vault
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