Port Saint John Celebrates Completion of West Side Modernization Project

Infrastructure improvements proving transformative for port

For immediate release
January 25, 2024

Saint John, NB- The $205M Port Saint John West Side Terminals Modernization Project at Port Saint John has come to a close, transforming the port and attracting significant private investment in the process. Funded equally by the Federal Government, Province of New Brunswick, and the Port, this construction project has been completed on time, on budget, and with increased scope despite challenges arising during the COVID-19 pandemic and global supply chain disruptions.

Thanks to this critical infrastructure investment, the west side container terminal is enjoying increased laydown capacity of over 160% or 325,000TEU. Other improvements include a 345-meter berth, the addition of new refrigerated towers, dredged the main channel to be deeper and wider and an expanded intermodal yard.  

Though only newly finished, the project’s clear benefits have been attracting world-class private sector partners and private investments to the tune of $560M since the signing of the project’s funding agreement in 2016.

Our value proposition to importers and exporters has grown as our private sector partners are investing more than $560M in rail and terminal upgrades. Port Saint John is the only port in eastern Canada that connects to three class one rail lines via our short line rail partners at NB Southern Rail offering unmatched optionality and in 2016 signed a long term agreement with DP World, a world class terminal operator, who have invested millions including two new post-panamax cranes in 2023.

“Port Saint John is vital to the economy of the city and by extension to the whole of Atlantic Canada,” said Wayne Long, Member of Parliament for Saint John–Rothesay, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities. “This remarkable modernization of the facility has already generated substantial investments from the private sector, has created good employment and has allowed the Port to nearly double the volume of cargo it handles. This major upgrade of the Port will help the economy locally, provincially and nationally by connecting communities to global trade opportunities. I am proud that this government continues to deliver for Saint John–Rothesay.” 

The Modernization Project at the Port of Saint John has been transformational for the city and the province,” said Arlene Dunn, Minister of Post Secondary Education Training and Labour and MLA for Saint John Harbour. “I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Saint John Port Authority on their vision to modernize the port and completing the project on time and on budget during a challenging time with global supply chain issues. The province is extremely pleased to have been a funding partner in this project and today is a celebration of a collective success.”

“Port Saint John is proud to announce the completion of the Modernization project that has positioned us to be a critical part of Canada’s supply chain,” said Craig Bell Estabrooks CEO of Port Saint John. “In 2022 our terminal throughput nearly doubled to 151,000TEU and in 2023 we were one of the only ports in North America to see container volumes grow as global trade was down. Our government partners have continually supported our vision for growth and now we are seeing that vision come to reality.”

Media Contact:

Patrick Beamish
Director, External Affairs
Port Saint John
pbeamish@sjport.com