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Prince Rupert Port Authority to invest $10 million for break bulk terminal at Ridley Island

A multi-million dollar investment by the Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) will open up Ridley Island to directly receiving bulk cargo.
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Prince Rupert Port Authority president and CEO Don Krusel discusses the year that was 2013 during the June 19 annual general meeting.

A multi-million dollar investment by the Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) will open up Ridley Island to directly handling bulk cargo that may be needed as major developments get underway on the North Coast.

“Yesterday at the first part of our board of directors meeting, a $10 million investment was approved for the relocation of the RORO — roll-on, roll-off — ramp. It was initially stationed on the north part of Fairview Terminal and it will be relocated to a location right near Prince Rupert Grain,” announced PRPA president and CEO Don Krusel during the group's June 19 annual general meeting, noting it will handle both imports and exports.

“We are going to fix up the area around there and create a gateway for bulk, break bulk and project cargo through Prince Rupert and we already have a customer in line to initiate that. We expect that to be ready the first quarter of next year.”

The relocation of the facility to an outcrop near Prince Rupert Grain will not require an environmental assessment, according to Prince Rupert Port Authority manager of corporate communications Michael Gurney.

“On commencement of construction, we will review the environmental management plan with the contractor and use best management practices from industry,” he said, noting the port authority has already spoken with “federal agencies with an interest in the foreshore”.

The announcement comes just four months after the 185-tonne floating RORO ramp at Fairvew terminal began to sink after pontoon corrosion caused it to lose buoyancy.