Anticipated increase in container ships means employment gains for local workforce

"With double volumes come double staff." -- Quickload Terminals General Manager Jeff Mackey, explaining how the increase of container ships calling on Prince Rupert will mean more hiring at his container handling company.

There has been no official announcement yet, but all indications are pointing towards an increase of through put at the Fairview Container Port, with an expected second container ship a week apparently set for the first week of July.

The local contractor for CBSA inspections Quickload Terminals is already making plans to double their workforce at their temporary Watson Island location as the volume increases.

The Daily News featured the latest developments as the front page story in Friday's Daily News.

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PORT PARTNER EXPECTS THINGS TO GET BUSY ON WATERFRONT

Firm that manages port's container inspection facility says it's gearing up
BY CARLA WINTERSGILL
The Daily News
Friday, June 06, 2008

Page One

The Quickload Container Examination facility is gearing up for an influx of ships that its managers are expecting to see as early as next month.

"There will be two ships a week effective July 5 so we'll be staffing up to do that," said Jeff Mackey, general manager of Quickload. "With double volumes come double staff."

However, there has been no official confirmation from the Prince Rupert Port Authority about increased service.

"There's been discussion with a ton of carriers that are looking at Prince Rupert because of how its performed over the last nine months since the opening," said Shaun Stevenson of the Port Authority. "But we haven't heard any confirmation or announcement from there."

Although there is speculation that shipping executives are currently in Prince Rupert to discuss adding service to the port, it has so far been unsubstantiated.

Quickload is preparing for increased service by hiring extra staff. As of July, there will 12 to 16 warehouse staff working alongside the 18 Canadian Border Service Agency officers.

The Quickload facility currently operates out of a temporary space in the former pulp mill on Watson Island.

Imported containers are transported from Fairview Container Terminal to the temporary Quickload facility. There, the containers are inspected by border officers.

The permanent facility under construction on Ridley Island has suffered from a series of setbacks that has delayed its opening. It was originally slated to open in June.

"We had some minor delays throughout the winter due to some environmental concerns with the land and our lovely Prince Rupert weather system," said Mackey. "However, now with the weather turning we've made up for those delays."

Quickload is making up for lost time.

"It's going pretty well," said Mackey. "The local subcontractor that we're using has been absolutely outstanding."

Mackey projects that the Quickload facility will be open by mid-to-late fall of this year.
As for the increase in staff: "It's outstanding news."