Montreal, Que, Canada

Port Overview

Montreal, located on the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, is Canada’s second-largest city and the largest in the province. As a major gateway between North America and Europe, the Port of Montreal is strategically important for containerized cargo, serving as a key hub for inland distribution. The port ranks among Canada’s busiest, handling over 1.7 million TEUs annually. Its central location and multimodal connections make Montreal vital for international trade and logistics in eastern Canada.

Facilities & Infrastructure

Montreal’s main port facilities include five international container terminals operated by Montreal Gateway Terminals Partnership and Termont Montreal, plus a grain terminal managed by Viterra and dry bulk facilities run by Logistec. Key equipment includes 15 dockside gantry cranes (40–65 tonnes), yard gantry cranes, and stacker cranes. The Maisonneuve Terminal alone has 14 gantry cranes and 13 stacker cranes. The port also features a cruise terminal, extensive rail connections, and modern cargo handling systems.

Container Terminals

The Port of Montreal operates five international container terminals with a current capacity of approximately 1.46 million TEUs annually. The facilities feature 15 dockside gantry cranes across roughly 90 hectares. Major operators include Montreal Gateway Terminals Partnership (two terminals with 1.3 million TEU capacity), Termont Montreal Inc., and Logistec. The port can accommodate vessels up to 6,700 TEUs with a draft depth of 11.3 meters. Expansion projects at Viau Terminal and the planned Contrecoeur facility will significantly increase future capacity. Automation levels remain traditional with conventional crane operations.

Port Services

• Container handling: Modern container terminals with high-capacity equipment for efficient loading, unloading, and storage.
• Cargo operations: Full range of bulk, breakbulk, liquid bulk, and project cargo handling, including specialized stevedoring services.
• Ship services: Pilotage, towing, mooring, bunkering, fresh water supply, waste collection, and hull/tank cleaning.
• Warehousing: On-dock and near-dock storage facilities for various cargo types, including temperature-controlled and bonded warehouses.
• Customs: Comprehensive customs clearance and inspection services for international cargo, with integrated pre-arrival processing.

Global Connectivity

The Port of Montreal is a major international container port and transshipment hub located on the St. Lawrence River, about 1,600 km inland from the Atlantic. It serves Quebec, Ontario, Central Canada, and the U.S. Midwest and Northeast, connecting these regions directly to Europe and the Mediterranean via the shortest transatlantic route. The port handles all cargo types—containers, grain, dry and liquid bulk—and is a key cruise destination. Its intermodal rail network links directly to Canada’s national railways, ensuring efficient distribution to major North American markets.

Port Statistics

Port of Montreal, Quebec, Canada:

• TEU throughput: Approximately 1.5 million TEU (2024)
• World ranking: Not in the global top 30; among the top 2 in Canada
• Number of berths: 15 container berths (existing terminals)
• Area: About 26 km² (including terminals and logistics zones)
• Shipping lines: Served by major global carriers including MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, and others

The port is expanding with the Contrecœur terminal, which will add capacity for 1.15 million TEU by 2030.