Port of Saint John to spend US$678,607 on terminal upgrades

THE eastern Canadian port of Saint John has secured C$700,000 (US$678,607) in provincial funding to improve a container terminal in a bid to attract a second container line to New Brunswick.

Al Soppitt, president and CEO of the Saint John Port Authority, said the upgrades are part of the port's plan to attract another line, as well as some key shipping business back to the port.

Premier Shawn Graham announced the funding as part of an agreement in principle with the port that will see both parties contribute 50 per cent to the cost of the C$1.4 million project to refurbish Rodney Terminal.

Work is to start in July and end in September 2011. It will include replacement of the asphalt on an access road and container terminal entrance. The project will also involve replacement and refurbishment of decking, piles and caps at Rodney Terminal.

"We're working with Business New Brunswick to try and attract this container line to Saint John so they can carry AV Nackawic's goods, by container out of this port," Mr Soppitt was quoted as saying in a report by The Canadian Press.
(Source:www.schednet.com)