VANCOUVER, B.C. — The container backlog in Vancouvers port system has all but virtually been elimanted, reported the last update from the Vancouver Port Authority on March 27.

Parties continue to work together to implement options that will utilize all gateway facilities; while stakeholders and customers continue to review forecasted import volumes and corresponding rail supply.

The Deltaport terminal is now considered to be working at normal levels. Rail car supply has improved over the past week and is expected to continue to improve through the end of March. Terminal on-dock inventory continues to decrease and on-dock volume has decreased to approximately 2,400 containers.

At the Vanterm terminal, on-dock volume has decreased to approximately 1,200 containers. On-dock volume is expected to increase to 3,100 containers with the arrival of two vessels commencing operations March 27.

The container backlog began shortly after the beginning of 2007, due to a series of wild winter storms along Canadas Pacific Coast blocking transportation thoroughfares to the terminals. At its peak in mid-January about 7,000 containers were stranded at the Deltaport terminal.