Flooding disrupts Port of Vancouver operations

Flooding in British Columbia (BC), Canada, has caused delays and disruptions to road and rail links at the Port of Vancouver.

All rail services in and out of the port were halted on 16 November because of flood damage to infrastructure in the BC interior, the port authority said. Major Canadian rail operators CN and CP Rail have indicated that no rail traffic was available between Kamloops and Vancouver and the firms were conducting damage assessments, after which a timeframe for reopening will be known, it added.

Delays to vessel loadings and increased anchorage demand are expected, the port authority said, adding that road links to the port were also affected by washouts and debris from landslides throughout southwestern BC.

Disruptions will affect wood pellet cargoes out of the port, which are thought to be around 100,000 t/month in October-December, a participant said. This may add pressure to an already tight market supply for spot deliveries.

Deliveries from the Port of Vancouver were disrupted in July by wildfires in the region. Canadian wood pellet exports recovered in September but were slightly down on the year in the third quarter.

By John Cooper