Montreal Port Authority (MPA) - The MPA heartily welcomes the agreement
reached between the Maritime Employers Association and its unionized
employees to end their labour dispute

MONTREAL, July 23 /CNW Telbec/ - The Montreal Port Authority welcomes the agreement reached today between the Maritime Employers Association (MEA) and its longshore labour force allowing work to resume at the Port of Montreal's terminals. The MPA also welcomes the announcement of the resumption of talks on renewal of the collective agreement, and hopes that the parties quickly agree on this issue to ensure that the Port of Montreal can continue its long-term development.

The Montreal Port Authority's mission is to manage port infrastructures and facilitate the development of shipping and logistical operations in order to promote trade and contribute to the prosperity of Greater Montreal, Québec and Canada. It was not party to the conflict and regrets the inconveniences that this situation caused to users of port services, shippers and their customers. It will do everything in its power to get things back to normal fast and ensure the shipment of all cargo currently in the Port.

Following this back to work agreement, here is the situation at the Port of Montreal:

    
    - The terminals affected by the labour dispute will resume operation on
      Saturday at 8:00 a.m.
    - All rail traffic has resumed.
    - Construction work continues.
    - Vessels that were diverted and not unloaded in another port are en
      route back to the Port of Montreal.
    - The Port entrances at Berri, Viau and Hector-Barsalou streets remain
      open. The other entrances will gradually reopen. They will all be
      reopened by Saturday morning unless otherwise specified.

    About the Port of Montreal
    --------------------------
    

Operated by the Montreal Port Authority (MPA), the Port of Montreal is a major diversified transshipment centre that handles all types of goods - non-containerized cargo, liquid bulk and dry bulk. It is a leading container port served by 7 of the 10 largest container shipping lines in the world. Close to 1,250,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) were handled at the Port of Montreal in 2009, representing 11,266,000 tonnes of cargo.

The Port also handled 7,773,000 tonnes of liquid bulk, 2,898,000 tonnes of dry bulk, and 2,419,000 tonnes of grain in 2009.

The Port of Montreal owns its own rail network, operated directly on the piers. It is connected to the two nationwide railways and a highway system. The Port also operates its own grain terminal and a marine passenger terminal that welcomed 47,534 passengers and crew members in 2009. All the other terminals are operated by private stevedoring firms. Port activity supports 18,200 jobs and generates $1.5 billion in economic spin-offs per year.

For further information: Jean-Paul Lejeune, Director of Communications, Montreal Port Authority, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], [email protected]; www.port-montreal.com