On November 18, Termont Montréal Inc. and Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC) joined Marc Garneau, Canada’s Minister of Transport; Laurent Lessard, Quebec’s Minister of Transport; Jean D’Amour, Quebec Minister for Maritime Affairs; and Montreal Port Authority to inaugurate the Viau container terminal at the port of Montreal in the presence of approximately 75 guests and dignitaries.
The redeveloped site at Viau terminal provides container capacity for an additional 350,000 TEUs at the port. It features two new state-of-the-art post-Panamax cranes, five rubber-tire gantry cranes, electrically-powered reefer stations, a modern automated truck-marshalling gate, an efficient intermodal service using on-terminal rail operations, and a high-density container yard.
“Viau terminal is an excellent example of how the public and private sectors can work together to develop world-class facilities for the benefit of businesses and communities alike,” said Madeleine Paquin, President of Termont and President and CEO of Logistec Corporation. “Termont has invested approximately $44 million on equipment and container handling services to support strategic growth for customers of both Port of Montreal and MSC. Our combined investments have created the most modern and efficient container terminal along the St. Lawrence River, serving the northeastern part of the continent.”
The port of Montreal is a strategic connection for container shipping in North America and benefits from MSC’s four weekly services using the Montreal gateway: one North Atlantic service, two services to the Mediterranean, and one service to the Caribbean and South America.
Viau terminal has the largest cranes at the port and on-dock access to the region’s intermodal networks. The facility can also stack containers up to six units high and is expected to have the highest container density at the port.
“We live in a global economy and the majority of what Canadians buy at any retail point, along with manufacturing within Canada, is traded with countries worldwide,” said Sokat Shaikh, President and CEO of MSC Canada. “The 350,000 TEUs of new capacity is great news for Canadians because it means that more retail goods can be imported and more natural resources can be exported to countries around the world. MSC’s commitment to simplify Canadian trade and support our customers as they continue to expand internationally is at the core of our decision to operate at the new Viau terminal.”
In addition to Termont’s contributions, Montreal Port Authority and Infrastructure Canada, via the New Building Canada Fund, are investing approximately $83 million in developing the terminal’s berth and permanent infrastructure.
“We are proud to inaugurate our fourth international container terminal and share this occasion with our partners at Termont and MSC. The last time we inaugurated a container terminal was at Maisonneuve, nearly 30 years ago. We thank the government of Canada and Termont for their financial contributions to this wonderful project. Port of Montreal continues to reinvent itself and adapt to the needs of the market and its partners to maintain its role as a driver of economic growth and a leader in sustainable development,” said Sylvie Vachon, President and CEO of Montreal Port Authority.
Construction of the Viau terminal will be completed in two phases. In the coming years, Montreal Port Authority and Termont expect to add a second berth and develop a supplementary container reception area. This will add another 250,000 TEUs of capacity and complete the second phase of the construction project with a total terminal capacity of 600,000 TEUs.