The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and GCT Global Container Terminals have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore a partnership aimed at advancing the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 container project at the Port of Vancouver’s Deltaport facility in Delta, B.C.

As a result, GCT will withdraw its separate application to the Canadian Major Projects Office (MPO) for the Deltaport Berth 4 expansion project and instead focus on Roberts Bank Terminal 2.

With support from the MPO, the parties said, GCT and VFPA will share information and negotiate in good faith over the next year with the goal of reaching a joint development agreement. Under the arrangement, the port authority will work exclusively with GCT during that period to assess the benefits, synergies and operational expertise the terminal operator could contribute as a potential builder and operator of the project.

The port authority will continue leading development of the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 landmass and remain responsible for permitting and engagement with Indigenous communities. As part of the coordinated approach,

“Increasing container capacity is essential to Canada’s ability to compete, grow, and trade with the world,” said Peter Xotta, the port authority’s president and CEO. “This is an exciting time for the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project with procurement underway and a landmass-construction partner to be selected this summer. This MOU moves us into planning for the next stage of project delivery with an opportunity for partnership with a Canadian-owned operator with a strong track record of delivery in Port of Vancouver.”

GCT, the port’s operator, had formally applied to the MPO, which collaborates with Ottawa to approve infrastructure that is considered nationally important within two years. Deltaport ranks among Canada’s largest container-shipping terminals.

“GCT has a long history of driving growth at the Port of Vancouver. Strong, reliable trade infrastructure is fundamental to Canada’s economic strength, and we are excited to work alongside the VFPA to explore how our operational expertise and long-term investment capacity can contribute to the successful delivery of RBT2,” said Eric Waltz, president and CEO of GCT Global Container Terminals.

The DP4 expansion at Roberts Bank was slated to boost Canada’s container-handling capacity by more than 2 million TEUs, or 20-foot-equivalent units, create about 10,000 jobs during construction and operations, and contribute billions of dollars to GDP growth.

Pictured: Proposed Roberts Bank Terminal 2 at Deltaport in Delta, B.C.

Photo: Vancouver Fraser Port Authority