Ridley Terminals Moving Towards Doubling Capacity

Thursday, January 20, 2011 03:57 AM

Prince Rupert, B.C. – Ridley Terminals is making strides toward its goal of doubling capacity.

The bulk marine terminal near Prince Rupert has just signed a five-year deal with a major U.S. coal company. The agreement will allow Arch Coal, Inc. Throughput capacity at the terminal for up to 2 million metric tons of coal this year and up to 2.5 million metric tons of coal for 2012 through 2015.

Ridley Terminals can load up to 12 million metric tons of coal a year with expansion plans that could see the facility boost capacity to twice that by 2015. Coal makes up over 80 percent of Ridley’s total volume with most of it heading to Asian markets.

"RTI's vision is to provide value to its parent company and expand its role as a leading trade gateway between North American and world markets," said George Dorsey, president of Ridley Terminals. "This agreement is a very important contract for the terminal. Arch Coal's guaranteed U.S. coal volumes will support our goal of doubling our capacity by 2015."

Ridley Terminals offers shippers reduced sailing time to Asia by more than a day compared to Vancouver and nearly three days compared to Long Beach, California.

Arch Coal, based in Saint Louis, is the second largest U.S. coal producer.

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Posted on Thursday, January 20, 2011 03:57 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Eagleone on January 20 2011 7:11 AM

Great news for the north as a whole in making our transportation systems more viable and competitive.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on January 20 2011 10:11 AM

I liked Rupert a lot when I lived there a few years back,and I still do,but unfortunately for them.neither Ridley or the port have developed as was originally predicted.
It has been tough going,and for the most part,not much has changed for Rupert.
Still high unemployment and the same badly overpriced, mouldy homes for sale, year after year.
And not much new, other than a casino they sure as hell didn't need.
Downtown Rupert on a Saturday night is still a mess and the casino has only added to the problem.
Having family there,I keep in touch with what is going on,and according to those that live there,that ain't much!
Even the port is slow right now.
Hopefully that will change, but even if it does,it never seems to last very long and they are right back to the doldrums.
Even the cruiseship industry is giving up on Rupert, as was predicted by many right from the start.
Not much to offer to the tourism industry,and hype doesn't cut it for long.
I wish Ridley luck,but I am not holding my breath and neither is anyone in Prince Rupert.
They have been hearing the same thing for years now.
Who knows...maybe this time they will get lucky.

Posted by: Palopu on January 20 2011 11:22 AM

Looks like the nearest Arch Coal mine is in Wyoming, so while they would have some savings being a day closer to China, they would have some increase in transportation costs in getting the coal to Prince Rupert as opposed to Longview Wash. (They just obtained a 30% interest in a coal port in Longview).

On the other hand if they received good freight rates from CN Rail then that culd be what would make it work.

These coal unloading terminals are not very labour intensive, as the coal is loaded in self dumping hopper cars and can be unloaded in no time flat. Same thing applies to the railways. A 100 car coal train only requires two people to run it, so not to many jobs created, however some is better than none.

Posted by: Windigo on January 20 2011 2:45 PM

This may turn out to be one of very few positive things that have happened in the Northwest for a long time....Hope it works out for the area