Roberts Bank Superport
Encyclopedia
Roberts Bank Superport is a twin-terminal port
facility located on the mainland coastline of the Strait of Georgia
in Delta, British Columbia
. Opened in 1970 with Westshore Terminals as its only tenant, Roberts Bank was expanded in 1983–84, and in June 1997 opened a second terminal, the Deltaport container facility.
Part of Port Metro Vancouver
, Roberts Bank is also known as the Outer Harbour of Canada's busiest port. Westshore
is the busiest single coal export terminal in North America and is operated by the Westar Group on a long-term contract. It typically ships over 20 million tonnes of export coal a year and early in 2010 completed a $49-million equipment upgrade, bringing its capacity from 24 million to 29 million tonnes per year.
TSI Terminal Systems Inc. operates Deltaport, the largest container terminal in Canada, as well as another terminal in the Inner Harbour of the Vancouver Port known as Vanterm on Burrard Inlet
.
Like the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal
to the southeast, Roberts Bank was built at the end of a long causeway over a shallow bank. Originally created as a 20 hectares (49.4 acre) pod of reclaimed land for a major coal port, it is now four times that size. In January 2010, Deltaport added a third berth and doubled its capacity. It is now one of the busiest import/export ports in North America and a major hub for container trucking companies.
Deltaport's container facility is designed to handle the largest container ships afloat and features Super Post-Panamax container cranes. The container facility completed a $400-million expansion in late 2009, adding a third berth and doubling its capacity to 1.8 million TEU (20-foot equivalent units).
It is currently serviced by CN Rail
, CP Rail
and BNSF Railway
. Seaspan International provides tugboat
services to both terminals at Roberts Bank.
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
facility located on the mainland coastline of the Strait of Georgia
Strait of Georgia
The Strait of Georgia or the Georgia Strait is a strait between Vancouver Island and the mainland coast of British Columbia, Canada. It is approximately long and varies in width from...
in Delta, British Columbia
Delta, British Columbia
Delta is a district municipality in British Columbia, and forms part of Metro Vancouver. Located south of Richmond, it is bordered by the Fraser River to the north, the United States to the south and the city of Surrey to the east...
. Opened in 1970 with Westshore Terminals as its only tenant, Roberts Bank was expanded in 1983–84, and in June 1997 opened a second terminal, the Deltaport container facility.
Part of Port Metro Vancouver
Port Metro Vancouver
Port Metro Vancouver is a non-shareholder, financially self-sufficient corporation, established by the Government of Canada in January 2008, pursuant to the Canada Marine Act, and accountable to the federal Minister of Transport. It is the principal authority for shipping and port-related land and...
, Roberts Bank is also known as the Outer Harbour of Canada's busiest port. Westshore
Westshore Terminals Income Fund
Westshore Terminals Income Fund is a leading operator of coal export facilities in the Metro Vancouver area, with an export capacity of 29 million tones per year, handing around 200 ships per year....
is the busiest single coal export terminal in North America and is operated by the Westar Group on a long-term contract. It typically ships over 20 million tonnes of export coal a year and early in 2010 completed a $49-million equipment upgrade, bringing its capacity from 24 million to 29 million tonnes per year.
TSI Terminal Systems Inc. operates Deltaport, the largest container terminal in Canada, as well as another terminal in the Inner Harbour of the Vancouver Port known as Vanterm on Burrard Inlet
Burrard Inlet
Burrard Inlet is a relatively shallow-sided coastal fjord in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. Formed during the last Ice Age, it separates the City of Vancouver and the rest of the low-lying Burrard Peninsula from the slopes of the North Shore Mountains, home to the communities of West...
.
Like the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal
Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal
The Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal is a major transportation facility in Delta, British Columbia. It is located on a three kilometre man-made causeway off the mainland at Tsawwassen and is less than 500 metres from the 49th parallel, Canada's border with the United States...
to the southeast, Roberts Bank was built at the end of a long causeway over a shallow bank. Originally created as a 20 hectares (49.4 acre) pod of reclaimed land for a major coal port, it is now four times that size. In January 2010, Deltaport added a third berth and doubled its capacity. It is now one of the busiest import/export ports in North America and a major hub for container trucking companies.
Deltaport's container facility is designed to handle the largest container ships afloat and features Super Post-Panamax container cranes. The container facility completed a $400-million expansion in late 2009, adding a third berth and doubling its capacity to 1.8 million TEU (20-foot equivalent units).
It is currently serviced by CN Rail
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
, CP Rail
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
and BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
. Seaspan International provides tugboat
Tugboat
A tugboat is a boat that maneuvers vessels by pushing or towing them. Tugs move vessels that either should not move themselves, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal,or those that cannot move by themselves, such as barges, disabled ships, or oil platforms. Tugboats are powerful for...
services to both terminals at Roberts Bank.
External links
- TSI Terminal Systems Inc., operators of the Port of Vancouver's Deltaport, under a long-term lease agreement.