Montreal port, DP World sign pact for new container terminal

The Port of Montreal in Quebec on Sept. 4 signed a joint development agreement with DP World in Canada, a joint venture between DP World and La Caisse, for the design of the land-based assets of a container terminal.

The agreement advances the port's planned expansion project, which includes the creation of a container terminal, which will feature two berths, a container handing area, a rail yard, a truck gate facility and support facilities, port officials said in a press release. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Under the joint development agreement, the port authority and DP World will finalize design for the terminal and terms for construction. All land work — including the container yard, buildings, utilities and rail connections — will be completed by DP World, while water assets will be overseen by the port authority in collaboration with Pomerleau and Aecon.

Construction on the terminal is expected to be completed by 2030. When completed, the terminal will be able to handle 1.15 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs). 

The Port of Montreal is already the largest container port in eastern Canada and the only container port in Quebec. The port offers rail service via its own network of locomotives and tracks, which interchange with CN and Canadian Pacific Kansas City.