PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. — Led by a surge in container traffic through the Fairview Terminal, the Port of Prince Rupert handled 10,596,863 tonnes in 2008, a moderate increase over 2007.

The Fairview Terminal handled 181,890 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) from 78 vessels in its first full year of operations, following the facility’s opening in October 2007. The terminal’s throughput for the first six months was 42,555 TEUs, before jumping more than 300 percent in the second half of 2008 with 139,335 TEUs as a result of the addition of the second COSCO/CKYH Alliance service in July.

In the fourth quarter, the terminal operated at greater than 60 percent of its 500,000 TEU capacity with a throughput of 79,106 TEUs.

Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) president and CEO Don Krusel says the second half surge in traffic reflects the growing confidence of shippers in the competitive advantages of moving their cargo through the Asia-North America express gateway corridor anchored by the Prince Rupert container terminal.

“The PRPA, in conjunction with our CN, Maher Terminals and the COSCO-CKYH Alliance partners, are delivering on our commitment to providing our shipping customers with unparalleled reliability, speed and cost effectiveness,” notes Krusel. “This is more crucial now than ever before because the global economic turmoil is drastically affecting their businesses.”

Krusel points out that the record-breaking 1.8 million tonnes of container cargo which moved through Fairview Terminal during 2008 is proof of the success and value of the government and private-sector investment in the container terminal.

“Fairview Terminal never achieved more than one million tonnes of cargo in any given year during its first 30 years of operation as a bulk/breakbulk facility,” notes Krusel. “Now, after only 14 months of operation, and with considerably more capacity for growth, the terminal is moving 80 percent more cargo through a brand new trade corridor into North America.”