At the Annual Meeting of Trois-Rivières Port Authority (TRPA) in June, Cléo Marchand, Chairman of the Board, provided a brief overview of the Port’s highlights of 2014.
“Port of Trois-Rivières experienced an excellent year in 2014, as its traffic volumes reached a new record. The Port plays an important role in the local, regional and national economies, so these results are encouraging not only for TRPA, but also for the local population at large. It is beneficial for the entire community,” said Mr. Marchand.
Volumes at the Port increased from 2.7 million tonnes (MMT) in 2013 to a record high of 3.8 MMT, an increase of 37 per cent. This increase is the result of a strong increase in bulk volumes, which reached 3.3 MMT, primarily on the back of strong grain shipments. TRPA’s operating revenues increased from $6.1 million in 2013 to $7.2 million in 2014, while net profit increased by over 50 per cent to reach $3.1 million. A total of 243 ships called on the Port in 2014, 11 more than in 2013. Three international cruise ships that called on the port in 2014, carrying a total of 1,796 passengers and 865 crew members. Moreover, Croisières AML, which offers cruises on the St. Lawrence River, started seasonal operations in Trois-Rivières in 2014.
“We are very proud of these results, which we consider to be a reflection of the investments we made in recent years, not only in terms of infrastructure, but also in terms of innovation and collaboration with our partners and clients. For example, we have been able to develop new markets, such as the handling of imported steel. And we are looking to the future with optimism, because the second phase of On Course for 2020 will take us even further,” said Gaétan Boivin, President and CEO.
In 2014, TRPA began work on Phase II of On Course for 2020 with the construction of a new megadome. The continuation of this work involves rebuilding Dock 13 and the new 23,000-square-metre terminal alongside this dock, as well as two new warehouses. The federal government is committing up to 50 per cent of the total eligible costs to a maximum of $16.3 million from the Gateways and Border Crossings Fund. The Port Authority will be responsible for the balance of the project funding estimated at $16.8 million. Additionally, the private sector is expected to contribute nearly $15 million for the purchase of new equipment at the terminal.