Canada

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, British Columbia. Review of pending sale of Hapag-Lloyd Container Line. Seaport Consultants Canada prepared for Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA) a review of the pending sale of Hapag-Lloyd by its parent TUI AG. The focus was on potential buyers, the changes that they would likely make to Hapag-Lloyd and the implications of the sale for VFPA’s market which Hapag-Lloyd serves as a member of the Grand Alliance.

PSA International Pte Ltd, British Columbia. Assistance with container terminal tender, Vancouver. Seaport Consultants Canada supported PSA International in its tender for a build-operate-transfer concession for the Terminal 2 container terminal at Roberts Bank in the Port of Vancouver.

Vancouver Port Authority, British Columbia. Update of Comparative Port Gateway Pricing Study, Vancouver. Seaport Consultants Canada updated its 2006 evaluation of the regional competitiveness of Vancouver for the transit of containers from a shipping line’s perspective. The comparative review included Fraser Port, Port of Seattle, Port of Tacoma and Port of Prince Rupert. The evaluation encompassed marine charges, pilotage and tugs, port authority and terminal operator fees.

Confidential Client, British Columbia. Proposal to container shipping line. Seaport Consultants Canada developed a detailed proposal for presentation to a container shipping line aimed to secure container shipping for a container terminal.  

Vancouver Port Authority, British Columbia. Comparative port gateway pricing study. Seaport Consultants Canada evaluated the regional competitiveness of Vancouver for the transit of containers from a shipping line’s perspective. The evaluation encompassed marine charges, pilotage and tugs, port authority and terminal operator fees, and intermodal rail activities. Seaport also developed a financial model for use by VPA to conduct comparative analysis and perform “what if” assessments.

TDK Logistics Ltd., British Columbia. Development of site plan and container tariff. Seaport Consultants Canada prepared a site plan, developed equipment needs and operating procedures, and estimated container handing charges for an off-dock container storage depot and stuffing facility. Seaport subsequently developed a tariff for the container storage depot. The work included developing the structure of the tariff, drafting all clauses and sections and establishing individual rates for services.

Fraser River Port Authority, British Columbia. Implementation of tariff schedule. Seaport Consultants Canada assisted Fraser River Port Authority (FRPA) in implementing the tariff that Seaport developed for FRPA in 2004. Seaport’s work included a review and update of comparative tariff rates, an evaluation of the market impact of the tariff, and development a strategy to introduce the tariff.

Bridge Terminal Transport Inc., British Columbia. Review of proposed container transfer facility. Seaport Consultants Canada assisted the client to develop an expansion plan of their Vancouver off-dock container terminal to double its size and integrate a bulk transfer facility to handle specialty agricultural products from rail wagons directly to containers, or via storage bins or a bagging plant into containers. The work involved developing layout plans to harmonize the container handling activities with the bulk transfer facilities in a manner to optimize container capacity and traffic flows to avoid both traffic bottlenecks and operational conflicts.

Terminal Operating Company, British Columbia. Evaluation of marine terminal site. Seaport Consultants Canada evaluated capacity and expansion potential of a combined bulk and break-bulk cargo terminal the client was considering acquiring. Seaport evaluated the potential for break-bulk capacity increases within the existing terminal site and in conjunction with a vacant adjacent site. Seaport also prepared a conceptual layout of a container terminal on the site in conjunction with bulk handling.

Confidential, British Columbia. Evaluation of bulk terminal. Seaport Consultants Canada reviewed bulk commodity markets as part of an evaluation of a dry bulk terminal.

B.C. Wharf Operators Association et al, British Columbia. Evaluation of rail service issues at marine terminals. Seaport Consultants Canada reviewed rail service issues at marine and off-dock terminals in the Greater Vancouver area. Information compiled from terminal operators and other sources was assembled into an overall picture of the level of and trends in rail service to the terminals.

Confidential Client, British Columbia. Break-bulk terminal capacity and traffic. Seaport Consultants Canada compiled from statistical information and surveys a consistent picture of the break-bulk port traffic in B.C. ports. Seaport developed information on the break-bulk terminals, estimated their development potential, reviewed vessel productivity by product and ship type, reviewed storage densities by product and estimated the berth and storage capacities of the terminals. Seaport then reviewed the implications of alternative capacity scenarios for the division of break-bulk cargoes among the ports.

Ministry of Small Business and Economic Development and Ministry of Transportation, Province of British Columbia, British Columbia. Development of BC port strategy. The Province of British Columbia undertook a port strategy study to provide a comprehensive understanding of the competitive situation and outlook for BC ports. The goal of the study was to recommend a strategic direction for the Province with respect to identifying opportunities for the Province to facilitate, along with its key partners, the sustainable development and growth of BC’s key trading ports over the next 20 years. Seaport Consultants Canada associated with Colledge Transportation Consulting Inc. (prime consultant) and Seabulk Systems Inc. for this work. Seaport’s role in the study comprised:

·         Projections of port traffic growth on the West Coast of North America and in British Columbia with a particular focus on containers.

·         Assessment of the competitiveness of British Columbia container ports with major container ports on the US West Coast.

·        A review of container handling technology and automation, and its implications for inter-port competitiveness and the development of British Columbia ports.

·         A review and projection of bulk, break-bulk and container shipping on the West Coast.

·        Participation in workshops and development of port profile and overall strategy papers.

UMA Engineering Ltd. for Vancouver Port Authority, British Columbia. Feasibility study of off-dock intermodal container transfer facility (ICTF). The objective of the ICTF, located near the Roberts Bank area of Vancouver’s outer port, was to improve the flow of intermodal rail containers and to induce capacity increases in the container shipping terminals by removing a portion of the intermodal activity from the on-dock intermodal yards. The study comprised site evaluations, preliminary designs, capital cost estimates and economic evaluations. Seaport Consultants Canada was responsible for economic evaluations of the ICTF and its impact on port operators and users. Seaport also evaluated the commercial environment in which the ICTF would operate.

Fraser River Port Authority, British Columbia. Review of automobile terminal cost structures. Seaport Consultants Canada reviewed how US Pacific Northwest ports structure the allocation of port costs between the ocean carrier and the terminal operator for automobiles handled at their port facilities. The objective was to assist Fraser River Port Authority (FRPA) to determine if its fee structure for automobile terminals is in accord with today’s competitive marketplace.  The review recommended actions FRPA should take regarding revisions to the fee structure for the use of auto facilities under either a fixed lease or a terminal services agreement.

International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), British Columbia. Acquisition of container terminal company. The Province of British Columbia instructed BC Rail, a provincial Crown corporation, to divest BCR Marine, a division that comprised primarily a bulk terminal and the Centerm container terminal in the Port of Vancouver. Seaport Consultants Canada provided expert advice and assistance to an international container terminal operating company in its bid to acquire the company that operates the Centerm container terminal. Seaport’s services included strategic and marketing advice regarding container terminal operations in the Port of Vancouver, establishment of contacts for the international terminal operating company, and reviews of confidential information memorandum and other data.  Seaport also estimated operating and equipment capital costs for the terminal, developed a financial model of the terminal and provided preliminary estimates of its value.

Vancouver Port Corporation, British Columbia. Cruise terminal stevedoring study. Vancouver Port Corporation retained Seaport to estimate the costs of stevedoring at the Port of Vancouver's two cruise terminals. The project involved detailed estimation of manpower, equipment, management and support staff, and overhead costs. Seaport Consultants Canada also modeled the financial performance and determined the profitability of the services.