New scheduling tech leads to 56% jump in ship transits at Vancouver port area | Daily Hive

New scheduling tech leads to 56% jump in ship transits through busy Vancouver port area

Ironworkers Memorial Bridge and Second Narrows Rail Bridge at the Second Narrows of Burrard Inlet. (EB Adventure Photography/Shutterstock)

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority recently finished rolling out a new centralized scheduling system designed to better manage commercial ship traffic across the Port of Vancouver.

The system now covers all major port areas, including the Fraser River, Roberts Bank, and English Bay. With this final phase complete, the port authority has full oversight of ship movements across the entire port, supporting more than 3,000 vessel visits each year.

The goal of the system is to help ships move in and out of the port more smoothly and safely. By giving port operators, pilots, rail companies, and terminal operators a shared view of when and where vessels are moving, the system helps reduce bottlenecks and improve coordination.

You might also like:

This comes at an important time for Canada’s supply chains, as the country looks to strengthen trade routes and reduce delays amid changing global trade patterns. The Port of Vancouver handles more than $200 billion in trade each year, including about 800 large ocean-going ships that travel through the Fraser River and Roberts Bank annually.

“Across the gateway, partners and operators have worked closely with the port authority to develop, test, and adopt this system so we can streamline vessel movements, strengthen safety, and ensure the Port of Vancouver continues to support Canada’s trade diversification and economic resilience,” said Sean Baxter, Harbour Master and Director of Marine Operations, for the port authority in a statement.

Port of Vancouver container terminal facilities in Burrard Inlet in East Vancouver. (Nigel Jarvis/Shutterstock)

The scheduling system was first introduced in Burrard Inlet in late 2023, and then subsequently gradually expanded, with early results showing clear benefits. In 2024, traffic through the Second Narrows — one of the port’s busiest and most constrained waterways — rose by 56 per cent compared to the previous year.

The ships passing through the Second Narrows — under the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge and the Second Narrows Rail Bridge — are a mix of commercial vessels serving terminals in Vancouver and North Vancouver, with bulk carriers, general cargo ships, and tugs and barges making up much of the traffic. As well, oil/fuel tankers have been passing through the area in growing numbers, ever since the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion began its operations in 2024, with greater volumes of Albertan crude oil reaching the Westridge Marine Terminal in Burrard Inlet in North Burnaby.

Better visibility of ship movements has also helped rail operations. Canadian National (CN) Rail has been able to increase the number of trains serving North Shore terminals by 10 per cent each week, reducing delays and improving the flow of goods.

“The centralized scheduling system provides CN with critical visibility over vessels transiting — or scheduled to transit — under the Second Narrows Rail Bridge,” said Brad Butterwick, Vice President of Transportation for Western Region for CN.

“This enables us to anticipate when the bridge will need to be lifted for marine vessels and adjust train or vessel movements accordingly. The system, combined with our ongoing collaboration with the port authority, helps reduce the likelihood of congestion, minimizes wait times, and supports a more predictable and efficient flow of freight in and out of the Port of Vancouver.”

The southern end of the vertical-lift Second Narrows Rail Bridge directly transitions into the 3.2-km-long Thornton Tunnel — CN Rail’s north-south, single-track freight railway deep under Burnaby neighbourhoods, with the southern tunnel portal located in the Brentwood district, where the railway connects to the east-west railway trunk line.

second narrows rail bridge burrard inlet

The Second Narrows Rail Bridge just beyond the north entrance into the Thornton Tunnel. (sophiecat/Shutterstock)

The Second Narrows Rail Bridge just beyond the north entrance into the Thornton Tunnel. (Google Maps)

3911 Frances Street Burnaby Thornton Tunnel ventilation building fake house

Thornton Tunnel’s ventilation building enclosed inside a fake house at 3911 Frances Street, Burnaby. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)

Marine pilots who guide large ships through the narrow and fast-changing Fraser River say the new system is especially valuable in such a challenging environment.

“The Fraser River presents unique navigational challenges, from confined waters to changing river flow conditions,” said Captain Gord Cooper, chair of the Fraser River Pilots Committee. “The centralized scheduling system adds an important layer of visibility that supports safer and more predictable deep-sea vessel transits.”

With the system now fully in place, more than 450 registered users across the marine supply chain can better plan ship arrivals, departures, and cargo movements. Port officials note this improved coordination will help keep goods moving efficiently through Canada’s largest and most diverse port, benefiting businesses and consumers across the country.

Lions Gate Bridge at the First Narrows ship channel. (EB Adventure Photography/Shutterstock)

You might also like: