Prince Rupert, Bc, Canada

Port Overview

Prince Rupert is a major port city located on Kaien Island in northwestern British Columbia, Canada, near the Alaskan border. Situated approximately 770 kilometers northwest of Vancouver, it serves as Canada's third-largest port and closest North American port to Asia, offering a significant time advantage for Pacific trade routes. The Port of Prince Rupert handles approximately 1.3 million TEUs annually through its Fairview Container Terminal, making it a crucial gateway for trans-Pacific cargo. Its deep, ice-free natural harbor and strategic location along the shortest shipping route between North America and Asia position it as a vital hub for international maritime commerce and intermodal transportation.

Facilities & Infrastructure

Prince Rupert's primary facility is the Fairview Container Terminal, operated by DP World, featuring two berths with 800m quay length and 17m depth. The terminal handles 1.6 million TEUs annually using 4 Super Post Panamax cranes and 4 Malaccamax cranes. It emphasizes on-dock rail operations with 7 working tracks and 6 rubber-tired gantry cranes. Additional facilities include Trigon Pacific Terminals for bulk commodities, Prince Rupert Grain terminal, Westview Wood Pellet Terminal, and Pembina's propane export terminal on Watson Island.

Container Terminals

Prince Rupert, BC, has one main container terminal—Fairview Container Terminal—operated by DP World. The terminal features two deep-water berths with a total quay length of 800 meters and a berth depth of 17 meters. Its annual capacity is 1.6 million TEUs. The terminal is highly automated, with on-dock rail, minimal truck activity, and advanced crane systems, supporting efficient intermodal operations.

Port Services

Main Services at Port of Prince Rupert

Container Handling: Intermodal container terminal with capacity for 1.35 million TEUs, featuring industry-leading speed with direct on-dock rail access and same-day rail departure capability.

Cargo Operations: Comprehensive bulk cargo handling including grain, coal, pellets, liquids, and LPG export facilities. Project cargo services available for oversized shipments.

Ship Services: Deep natural harbor accommodating the largest vessels, cruise ship terminal handling vessels up to 335m.

Logistics: Full range including transload operations, export container stuffing, warehousing facilities, and expedited rail service connecting to US Midwest and Canada.

Global Connectivity

Prince Rupert, BC, offers direct connectivity to major Asian ports such as Shanghai, Busan, and Hong Kong via the shortest transpacific shipping routes. Its deep-water, ice-free harbour links seamlessly to North America’s interior through CN’s transcontinental rail network, serving key regions including the US Midwest (Chicago, Memphis), Eastern Canada (Toronto), and Western Canada. This strategic location enables efficient, rapid access to global markets with minimal congestion and industry-leading transit times.

Port Statistics

Port of Prince Rupert, BC, Canada – Key Statistics (2024):

• TEU Throughput: 704,248 TEUs
• World Ranking: Not in the global top 50 container ports
• Number of Berths: 3 container berths (Fairview Terminal)
• Area: Fairview Terminal covers 41 hectares
• Shipping Lines: Major carriers include COSCO, Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, MSC, CMA CGM, and ONE

Prince Rupert is Canada’s second-largest container port, known for its proximity to Asia and deep-water harbor.