PORT ALBERNI — The Port Alberni Port Authority’s dream of creating a container transshipment hub along the Alberni Inlet has taken a step forward.
The port authority recently announced that it has completed a “map reserve” with assistance from the provincial government. Crown land could be set aside within the reserve, should the shipment hub be developed.
How the transfer of the land to the port authority would work is still up in the air, however.
“The process will still have to be worked out,” said Port Alberni Port Authority CEO and port manager Zoran Knezevic. “Right now, it’s just reserved and there are various options as to how we proceed forward once the feasibility study is done.”
The move is a preliminary step toward supporting business expansion opportunities at the port, according to a statement from the port authority.
The reserve near Barkley Sound encompasses about 750 hectares from the foreshore, upland between Spencer Creek and Coleman Creek along the Alberni Inlet, on the same side of the inlet as Port Alberni.
“It offered a good geographical location and good protection for the navigation,” Knezevic said of the location of the map reserve.
"The slope is also good, and it’s away from any activities. We perceived that to be the most favourable [location]."
As well, it was important for the port authority to keep the shipping terminal close to the Pacific Ocean and away from the city.
“It’s important to keep it closer to the ocean because of the types of the project that we are talking about,” Knezevic said. “The closer to the ocean it is, the better, because it has less impact on the community [of Port Alberni].”
The port has mentioned the possibilities of an export site for liquefied natural gas and such other commodities as aggregates, minerals and forest industry products.
A feasibility study conducted by the port authority is underway to investigate the merits of the proposed container transshipment hub as well as that of a short-sea-shipping regional distribution centre, potentially located within the identified reserve.
If the feasibility study is positive, the port will look for funding for the project.
“If it’s good to go, we will communicate that with the relevant authorities and we will seek the investors to help us build it,” Knezevic said.
Having a container transshipment hub in the Alberni Valley would give the west coast of Canada another deep sea port, thus decreasing shipping congestion.
