Major investment to extend dock 10 at the Port of Trois-Rivières

Funding will help the Port enhance its competitiveness

TROIS-RIVIÈRES, QC, June 30, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - François-Philippe Champagne, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and MP for Saint-Maurice—Champlain, on behalf of the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport; Jean D'Amour, Minister for Maritime Affairs, on behalf of Jacques Daoust, Minister of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transport Electrification; Julie Boulet, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Montérégie Region; Jean-Denis Girard, MNA for Trois-Rivières; Cléo Marchand, Chairman of the Board of the Trois-Rivières Port Authority (TRPA), and Gaétan Boivin, President and Chief Executive Officer of the TRPA, today announced significant investments for improvements to the Port of Trois-Rivières.

The project involves extending dock 10 towards the east and filling the space between this extension and the current dock 9. The project will increase exterior storage space in this area from 3,000 m² to 12,000 m², which will enable increased shipping of a large variety of products and non-containerized general cargo. As a result, this will improve the competitiveness of shipping on the St. Lawrence and of the region's manufacturing companies.

Extending dock 10 and improving storage capacity are part of the improvements to a multi‑purpose zone totalling $40 million in infrastructure investments between 2015 and 2017. The Government of Canada has committed up to $16.3 million from the Gateways and Border Crossings Fund. From this amount, $3.6 million is being invested specifically in the dock extension. The Government of Quebec will contribute up to $4.9 million from the Programme de soutien aux investissements dans les infrastructures de transport maritime [program to support investments in maritime transportation infrastructure], adopted as part of the Government of Quebec's maritime strategy. The Trois-Rivières Port Authority will cover the rest of the project costs, estimated at $18.8 million. In addition to these infrastructure investments, $15 million from the private sector will be provided for handling equipment.

Today's announcement completes the implementation of the multi-purpose zone. Sheds 24 and 25 have already been completed. The construction of Terminal 13 is ongoing and will be completed at the end of the year. Work on dock 10 will begin in 2016.

Quick Facts

• The Port of Trois-Rivières is one of the largest ports in Quebec and Eastern Canada. Every year, it handles 55,000 trucks, 11,000 freight cars and over 200 merchant and cruise ships from around 100 ports in over 40 countries throughout the world.
• The Port handles over 3 million metric tons of cargo annually.

Quotes

"Improving the capacity and efficiency of the Port of Trois-Rivières will encourage economic growth for businesses and residents of our region. It will also contribute significantly to the country's competitiveness globally."
François-Philippe Champagne
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and MP for Saint-Maurice—Champlain, on behalf of the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport

"The extension of dock 10 at the Port of Trois-Rivières meets the objectives of the Programme de soutien aux investissements dans les infrastructures de transport maritime, which encourages increased competitiveness in Quebec's maritime economy and sustainable development."
Jacques Daoust
Minister of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transport Electrification

"Shippers will benefit from these improvements and the attractiveness of the Port of Trois-Rivières and the St. Lawrence Seaway will be enhanced. Stevedore companies at the Port of Trois-Rivières will be better positioned to benefit from growth opportunities, both in current markets or new areas."
Jean D'Amour
Minister for Maritime Affairs

"The Government of Quebec's financial support demonstrates that it recognizes the strategic nature of the Port of Trois-Rivières and maritime infrastructure in general. With the extension of dock 10, the port will further enhance its competitive position while creating about fifteen quality jobs."
Julie Boulet
Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Montérégie Region

"The extension of dock 10 is an important project that will increase the number of ships that can be accommodated at the Port of Trois-Rivières while enhancing its attractiveness and competitiveness, factors that will contribute to its growth."
Jean-Denis Girard
MNA for Trois-Rivières

"I would like to acknowledge the outstanding collaboration of the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec in this project. It is a testimony to their desire to support the Port of Trois-Rivières and our region."
Cléo Marchand
Chairman of the Board of the Trois-Rivières Port Authority

"Through the effective combination of existing facilities and those to be built, this terminal will support the development of local businesses and generate economic activity nationally and regionally."
Gaétan Boivin
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Trois-Rivières Port Authority

Related product

• Backgrounder: Establishing a multi-purpose terminal

Associated Links

• Gateways and Border Crossings Fund 
• Quebec Maritime Strategy

Contacts

Delphine Denis
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Marc Garneau
Minister of Transport, Ottawa
613-991-0700

Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
[email protected]

Melissa Turgeon
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transport Electrification
418-643-6980

Marc Lapointe
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister for Maritime Affairs
418-691-5650

Amina Chaffai
Regional Policy Advisor
Office of the Minister of Tourism
and Minister responsible for the Montérégie Region
819-609-5451

Marianne Méthot
Political Assistant
Office of the MNA for Trois-Rivières
819-371-6901

Media Relations
Communications Directorate
Ministère des Transports du Québec
Quebec: 418-644-4444
Montreal: 514-873-5600
Toll-free: 1-866-341-5724

Virginie Deschambeault
Director of Communications
Trois-Rivières Port Authority
Office: 819-378-2887, extension 207
Cell: 819-244-8888

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to e-news or stay connected through RSS, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr to keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada.

This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons living with visual disabilities.

Backgrounder

Establishing a multi-purpose zone

Freight transportation related to regional business activities
The sector of the port covered by the project is part of the multi-purpose terminal used to handle a large variety of products. This freight is directly related to regional business activities, either as inputs (steel and cocoa beans) or export products (wind turbine towers, aluminium and cable reels). This terminal can also be used for short sea shipping (SSS) and several such projects have been carried out.

Extension of dock 10
By extending dock 10 towards the east, the project will increase exterior storage space in this area to 12,000 m². 

Total investments in the multi-purpose zone: $55 M
Government of Canada: $16.3 M
Government of Quebec: $4.9 M
Trois-Rivières Port Authority: $18.8 M
Private sector (handling equipment): $15 M

Delivery dates and project costs included in the multi-purpose terminal
Sheds 24 and 25: $5 M ($2.5 M each) – 2016
Redevelopment of dock 13: $20.2 M – 2016
Extension of dock 10 and development of its storage area: $14.8 M –  2017

Dock 10: $14.8 M
Government of Canada: $3.6 M
Government of Quebec: $4.9 M
Trois-Rivières Port Authority: $6.3 M
Total project cost: $14.8M

SOURCE Cabinet du ministre des Transports, de la Mobilité durable et de l'Électrification des transports