Melford International Terminal Inc. will outline Tuesday its plans to build a $300-million US container terminal at the Strait of Canso, which could create up to 600 jobs in the area.
The firm is betting on marine industry forecasts the East Coast will be inundated with container cargo from the Indian subcontinent and China by 2012.
It has been known for several months that Halifax-based Trident Holdings Inc. has been the lead company in pursuing the development of the terminal at the Melford Industrial Reserve, in Guysborough County, on the mainland side of the Strait.
Melford officials will host an information session Tuesday morning to release further details.
The marine industry has been predicting that as North America’s West Coast ports continue to become clogged with increasing cargo volumes from China and India, East Coast ports will become more attractive as gateways for imports to North American markets.
The major routing for this cargo is expected to be through the Suez Canal, making Atlantic Canada the closest North American point of entry.
Bob Stevens, CEO of both Trident and Melford, says the company is well aware of the risks in developing such a project, but “we are convinced it (the cargo growth) will happen.”
His optimism is based on the number of large container vessels being built between now and 2012, and he is convinced a new Melford terminal will attract business because it will be competitive with other terminals. Plus it will offer value added services to importers through distribution and warehouse facilities within a logistics park.
Trident had hired American marine and port consultant John Vickerman, who was involved in the Prince Rupert project plus other North American port projects, to look into the developing cargo business. Based on his review, Mr. Vickerman claims container cargo will exceed capacity at North American ports by 2013 and will continue to grow for several years.
If the projected growth happens, there is some feeling within the industry the Melford terminal would not pose a threat to Halifax because there would be more than enough cargo for both ports.
Halifax Port Authority officials weren’t commenting until further details of the Strait project were revealed.
Some of the local partners expected to be named in the project include Nova Construction of Antigonish, headed by John Chisholm; Richie Mann of Dartmouth, who has his own consulting business, and David MacNeill of DMAC Risk Management Services of Dartmouth.
The firm is betting on marine industry forecasts the East Coast will be inundated with container cargo from the Indian subcontinent and China by 2012.
It has been known for several months that Halifax-based Trident Holdings Inc. has been the lead company in pursuing the development of the terminal at the Melford Industrial Reserve, in Guysborough County, on the mainland side of the Strait.
Melford officials will host an information session Tuesday morning to release further details.
The marine industry has been predicting that as North America’s West Coast ports continue to become clogged with increasing cargo volumes from China and India, East Coast ports will become more attractive as gateways for imports to North American markets.
The major routing for this cargo is expected to be through the Suez Canal, making Atlantic Canada the closest North American point of entry.
Bob Stevens, CEO of both Trident and Melford, says the company is well aware of the risks in developing such a project, but “we are convinced it (the cargo growth) will happen.”
His optimism is based on the number of large container vessels being built between now and 2012, and he is convinced a new Melford terminal will attract business because it will be competitive with other terminals. Plus it will offer value added services to importers through distribution and warehouse facilities within a logistics park.
Trident had hired American marine and port consultant John Vickerman, who was involved in the Prince Rupert project plus other North American port projects, to look into the developing cargo business. Based on his review, Mr. Vickerman claims container cargo will exceed capacity at North American ports by 2013 and will continue to grow for several years.
If the projected growth happens, there is some feeling within the industry the Melford terminal would not pose a threat to Halifax because there would be more than enough cargo for both ports.
Halifax Port Authority officials weren’t commenting until further details of the Strait project were revealed.
Some of the local partners expected to be named in the project include Nova Construction of Antigonish, headed by John Chisholm; Richie Mann of Dartmouth, who has his own consulting business, and David MacNeill of DMAC Risk Management Services of Dartmouth.