DP World has completed the expansion of its Fairview container terminal at the Port of Prince Rupert in Canada in order to accommodate larger container vessels.

The expansion is a part of a two-year ‘Phase two North’ expansion project and has increased the port’s annual container-handling capacity from 850,000 to 1.35 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

The expanded terminal features a second vessel berth with three new Malacca-max cranes, which will allow more than 20,000TEU vessels to access the terminal.

More than 6,000ft of on-dock rail and an additional 11ha of space have also been added to the terminal as part of the new development.

The expansion works saw the dredging and construction of a 155m-long, 40m-wide piled concrete wharf, as well as the upgrade of the Small Craft Harbours breakwater and float.

"Prince Rupert’s success has been driven by its unparalleled geographical position on the trans-Pacific trade route, its high terminal productivity and its consistently low dwell times."

The initiative is expected to create more than 200 new jobs at the terminal.

DP World Canada general manager Maksim Mihic said: “Prince Rupert’s success has been driven by its unparalleled geographical position on the trans-Pacific trade route, its high terminal productivity and its consistently low dwell times that have sustained despite our significant growth in throughput over the past two years.

“However, as global trade has grown, so has container vessels.

“In order to meet the needs of our customer and capitalise on other opportunities, we needed an upgrade.”

International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), Port of Prince Rupert and CN Rail are also involved in the Fairview terminal expansion project.

The site was originally converted from a break-bulk facility into a container terminal in 2007.