While overall tonnage was 48.8 million tonnes, down almost 17% from the same period in 2008, there were significant increases in commodities such as grain and petroleum. The cruise sector showed improvement from the first half of 2008, with an increase of 5% in revenue passengers to 354,251.

 

Container volumes declined 15%, for a total of 1.04 million TEU. Containerized full imports, down 25%, reflected reductions in the retail economy for this period. Laden container exports decreased 8%, reflecting stability in demand for woodpulp, grains and agri-products such as special crops.  Visit Port Metro Vancouver's website to read the full report.

The Transport Minister,  John Baird, has appointed Richard Turner of Vancouver, BC to Port Metro Vancouver's (PMV) board of directors for a three year term.   Mr. Turner is currently director, president, and CEO of DVPC Inc., a real estate investment firm.    Bob Wilds was also reappointed to the board for a two-year term and John Willcox a further one-year term.

The Transport Minister, John Baird, has appointed Raymond Castelli of Vancouver, British Columbia, to the board of directors of the Prince Rupert Port Authority for a term of three years.

Mr. Castelli has wide–ranging experience in the public and private sectors. In his early career, he served the Canadian government for over six years, as a senior advisor to the prime minister, as well as to the minister of Indian and Northern Affairs. Mr. Castelli later worked as an executive managing the Vancouver office of Alcan Aluminium, one of British Columbia's leading exporters to Asia. Consequently Mr. Castelli has extensive business experience in Asia, including developing business opportunities in China, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Currently he is chief executive officer for Weatherhaven, a manufacturing company that exports to more than 40 countries around the world.

Mr. Castelli sits on the board of governors of the BC Business Council, the province's largest business association. He is also a member of the Working Opportunity Fund, one of Canada's largest venture capital funds.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has advised that the current directive D-95-03, Asian Gypsy Moth (Lymantria Dispar L.) – Plant Protection Policy for Marine Vessels, will be updated within the next few days to include an additional four Japanese ports as high risk for Asian Gypsy Moth.  Ships calling on the ports during the listed "period of risk" in 2009 shown below must obtain a pre-departure certificate as outlined in the policy in order to avoid delays entering Canadian ports from March 1 - October 15, 2009 and 2010.  The USDA policy will also be updated and reflect the additions for 2009.

Ooita	June 1 to August 15
Hiroshima	June 1 to August 15
Hannan	June 1 to August 15
Sakata	July 1 to September 15
Hachinohe	July 15 to October 1
Hakodate	July 15 to October 1
Kobe	June 1 - August 15
Shimizu	June 15 - September 1
Otaru	July 1 - October 1
Tomakomai	July 15 - October 1

CFIA’s website link to the port list for 2009 associated with the directive will be updated at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/dir/portlste.shtml