Port of Montreal completes first phase of new container terminal

The Port of Montreal said the Viau Terminal is a symbol of growth and economic vitality.

Port of Montreal

Canadian Minister of Transport Marc Garneau celebrated the debut of a new container terminal in the Viau sector in Montreal, Quebec, Nov. 18.  

The new container terminal will boost the Port of Montréal’s (PoM) handling capacity by 450,000 TEUs—a 20-foot equivalent unit. The new terminal is expected to bring the total handling capacity in the Viau sector to 600,000 TEUs, raising the PoM’s total handling capacity to 2.1 million TEUs. 

“The government of Canada recognizes that port infrastructure plays a key role in supporting economic growth,” Garneau said on behalf of Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “In addition to making the Port of Montréal considerably more competitive, productive and effective, this project will also help support economic growth for Canadians in the years to come.”

Representatives say the new terminal’s construction aligns with a broader port capacity optimization project covering three key areas: the terminal’s container-handling capacity, marine access and road access. The PoM must be active on all three fronts to facilitate the balance needed between maintaining traffic and enabling activities to continue running smoothly, representatives say.

The PoM is currently the second-largest container port in Canada and

is the only container-handling port in Quebec and Ontario. One in four shipping containers handled in Canada passes through the trading hub.

Officials say the PoM is the most direct intermodal link between North America and the markets of Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.

The Canadian government says it is committing one third of the funding for all three project components—up to CA$43,666,667, (US$ 32,530,379.62) under the National Infrastructure Component of the New Building Canada Fund. Representatives say CA$27.2 million (US$20,263,198.14) of the funding is available to finance the new terminal. The remaining funds will be allocated to the project’s other components.

“The new Viau terminal will have a considerable impact! Ultimately, it will increase the Port of Montréal’s handling capacity by 2.1 million TEUs and generate significant benefits for the region, province and country as whole with annual spinoffs of $340 million and the creation of 2,500 direct and indirect jobs,” said Sylvie Vachon, president and CEO of the Montréal Port Authority. “The success of this project is the result of a significant collaboration between public and private organizations, including Termont Montréal Inc. and Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. Moreover, the work was carried out with concern for communities and the environment. There is much to be proud of.”