The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has made its port-wide centralized scheduling system for commercial marine traffic fully operational across the Fraser River, Roberts Bank, and English Bay, according to a media release.
The authority said the final phase of implementation brings all major operating areas into a single system that supports more than 3,000 annual port calls across 29 marine terminals, including about 800 deep-sea vessel calls in the Fraser River and at Roberts Bank, where trade valued at over $200 billion moves each year.
Sean Baxter, Harbour Master and Director of Marine Operations at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, said the milestone reflects joint work with partners to “streamline vessel movements, strengthen safety, and ensure the Port of Vancouver continues to support Canada’s trade diversification and economic resilience.”
The scheduling system was first introduced in Burrard Inlet in late 2023. According to the authority, its use in 2024 helped enable a 56% year-over-year increase in deep-sea vessel traffic through the Second Narrows corridor and supported a 10% rise in CN’s average weekly train count across the Second Narrows Rail Bridge by improving visibility into ship movements.
CN Vice President, Transportation – Western Region, Brad Butterwick, said the system provides “critical visibility” into vessel transits under the bridge, allowing adjustments to train or vessel movements and reducing the likelihood of congestion.
The Fraser River Pilots Committee said the final-phase implementation provides an added layer of visibility in an area with “unique navigational challenges,” according to its chair, Captain Gord Cooper. With full deployment complete, more than 450 registered users and supply chain partners now have access to unified scheduling tools for planning and coordination across what the authority describes as Canada’s largest and most diversified port.
The Port of Vancouver is a major Canadian trade gateway located on the southwest coast of British Columbia. It encompasses extensive water and land areas across multiple inlets and rivers, includes 29 major deep-water terminals, and serves five sectors: auto, bulk, breakbulk, container and cruise.
