Port of Montreal gets CAD$150 million boost for Contrecoeur terminal

The Port of Montreal has secured a CAD$150 million ($110.2 million) investment from the National Trade Corridors Fund (NTCF) for the container terminal project in Contrecoeur.

This significant investment, announced by Canada’s Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez, is regarded as a crucial step toward enhancing the efficiency of Canada’s supply chain.

In 2021, the Port of Montreal received approval from Canada’s Minister of the Environment and Climate Change to proceed with its expansion activities at Contrecoeur.

READ: Port of Montreal granted CAD$75 million for Contrecoeur terminal

“This financial backing from the federal government sends a strong message about our large Contrecoeur expansion project and the future of the logistics ecosystem in the St. Lawrence corridor,” said Geneviève Deschamps, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of the Montreal Port Authority (MPA).

“It lets us embark on the next steps with confidence, so that we can continue to play our vital role as a sustainable economic driver at the heart of the Quebec and Canadian economies.”

The MPA said it has adopted a hybrid approach to implement the major expansion project on Montreal’s South Shore. Under this approach, the MPA will take on some project responsibilities and adopt a more agile approach as follows:

• Marine works: The MPA will be responsible for the entire marine works phase, including dock construction and dredging. The authority will serve as the prime contractor during this phase, and a specialised firm will assist in project planning for the next nine to 12 months. Following this phase, the MPA will allocate the project works based on its procurement processes and provide an updated schedule for this component.
• Land site works and operations: A private partner will handle the land site works and operations. In early 2024, the MPA will issue a Request for Proposals to select a private partner for constructing the terminal, including the container yard, buildings, facilities, and rail connection. The selected private partner will also operate and maintain the terminal under a Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain (DBFOM) model. The water-based project works are excluded from this component.

READ: Port of Montreal announces departure of President and CEO

The previous DBFOM procurement process launched in November 2021, which covered both the terminal’s construction work and its operation, has been cancelled in favour of this new approach, which is better aligned with current market conditions according to the MPA.

Deschamps emphasized that the new procurement process will allow the MPA to more effectively manage risks, project works, and costs in the current context, ensuring the success of the expansion project.

The Contrecoeur expansion project is located in an industrial zone, acquired by the Montreal Port Authority over 30 years ago.

It has reportedly undergone careful collaborative planning to support the development of the supply chain in Quebec and Eastern Canada. Supported by the Canada Infrastructure Bank and the Government of Quebec, the project aims to establish a modern container terminal capable of handling up to 1.15 million TEU.

In May, the Port of Montreal and HAROPA Port announced the renewal of their first international cooperation agreement that took place six years prior.

Join us for PTI’s Smart Digital Ports of the Future Conference (SDP) in Halifax, Canada on 5 and 6 December – the leading hub for all things port digitalisation, innovation and technology.

Secure your ticket now at: https://sdp-northamerica.ptievents.com/tickets/