by Canadian Sailings | Aug 29, 2018 | Bruce Striegler, Business and Economy, Government and Regulation, Other, Supply Chain and Logistics
By R. Bruce Striegler
“The Trump Administration is proceeding with unilateral measures to address what it has characterized as “unfair” trade, risking retaliation, but banking on a threat of massive escalation to extract a favourable outcome for itself,” says the C.D. Howe Institute. Released in June, a new report titled “Quantifying the Impacts of the U.S. Section 232 Steel and Aluminum Tariffs”, its authors find that protective trade measures imposed by the United States will reduce U.S. and Canadian GDP, while paradoxically strengthening trade partners outside the North American region through competitive gains. (more…)
by Canadian Sailings | Jul 4, 2018 | Bruce Striegler, Gateways and Corridors, Other
By R. Bruce Striegler
At first glance, the Vancouver Island city of Nanaimo may seem to be an unusual location for a yet un-named European auto manufacturer to establish a vehicle processing centre (VPC) for Western Canada. However, Ewan Moir, President and CEO of Nanaimo Port Authority, assures us that is exactly what is taking place. “Historically, the way European autos reach Western Canada is after unloading from ships at Eastern Canadian ports, they are shipped across the country by rail, then moved into holding yards and moved again by truck to the dealerships. Logistical challenges, delays, and costs coming across Canada opened people’s eyes to the need for change.” Moir mentions land prices in the Vancouver area as a further issue. “Dealerships were turning to the manufacturer and expressing concern about holding large inventories which were becoming an expensive proposition.” (more…)
by Canadian Sailings | Jul 4, 2018 | Bruce Striegler, Business and Economy, Environment, Government and Regulation, Ocean, Other, Ports and Terminals
By R. Bruce Striegler
Little did Prime Minister Justin Trudeau realize in November 2016 as he stood before a crowd of reporters in Vancouver announcing his government’s $1.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan, that he would ultimately have to declare in May 2018 the government would be spending a further $4.5 billion to purchase the Trans Mountain pipeline and all of Kinder Morgan Canada’s core assets.
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by Canadian Sailings | Jul 4, 2018 | Bruce Striegler, Business and Economy, Environment, Other
By R. Bruce Striegler
While the public and the national media have been focused on the controversy over the Kinder Morgan Pipeline Expansion, another, quite different, proposal has been gaining considerable attention. A venture lead by noted B.C. First Nations writer and entrepreneur Calvin Helin, is proposing a $16 billion project to carry Alberta oil to tidewater in British Columbia. Five years ago, Eagle Spirit Energy Holdings Ltd., began investigating the notion of creating the Eagle Spirit energy corridor, whose concept is to move Alberta bitumen, B.C. natural gas and B.C. hydroelectricity along a route from Alberta to northwestern B.C. terminating near Prince Rupert. The acrimony over the Kinder Morgan expansion has brought the focus of their idea directly onto the oil pipeline portion of the plan. (more…)
by Canadian Sailings | May 16, 2018 | Bruce Striegler, Business and Economy, Ocean Carriers
By R. Bruce Striegler
Marine shipping analyst Alphaliner notes the recent major Japanese container line merger, comprising NYK, Mitsui OSK Lines and K Line, is set to go with an outstanding bright magenta colouring, far removed from the usual dark, plain colours generally seen in the industry. ONE, (Ocean Network Express Pte. Ltd.) announced in 2016, and started trading under its new name as of April 1, 2018. The new company will operate from a global headquarters in Singapore, regional headquarters in the United Kingdom, the United States, Hong Kong and Brazil and a holding company office in Tokyo. All approvals for the merger from antitrust authorities in all regions and countries were completed in January 2018. (more…)
by Canadian Sailings | Feb 25, 2018 | Bruce Striegler, Business and Economy, Ocean, Ocean Carriers, Other
By R. Bruce Striegler
Viterra Inc.’s Vancouver Cascadia and Pacific Terminals
Viterra operates six port facilities in its network, shipping grains, oilseeds and pulses to customers in over fifty countries. This includes the Cascadia and Pacific Terminals at the Port of Vancouver. The Cascadia terminal handles wheat, durum, canola, barley and rye, with a storage capacity of 280,000 tonnes. Over the past several years, Viterra invested more than $100 million in the Pacific Terminal, which opened in 2016 and tripled the terminal’s annual handling capacity to more than six million tonnes. Originally constructed in the 1920s, the Pacific Terminal is comprised of the original National Harbours Board facility and the original Alberta Pacific Grain Co. Viterra assumed ownership in 2007.
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