Port of Vancouver centralized scheduling system goes port-wide

The Port of Vancouver centralized scheduling system has now been fully rolled out by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority to improve how commercial ships move through the port, as outlined in a Vancouver Fraser Port Authority news release via GlobeNewswire.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

With that final phase complete, the port authority says the platform now covers the Fraser River, Roberts Bank and English Bay, giving port operators, marine pilots, rail companies and terminal operators the same view of vessel movements. The idea is straightforward: clearer timing and shared visibility to reduce bottlenecks and support smoother, safer arrivals and departures.

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The rollout comes as Canada focuses on reinforcing supply chains and cutting delays amid shifting global trade patterns. The Port of Vancouver handles more than $200 billion in trade each year and supports over 3,000 vessel visits annually, including about 800 large ocean-going ships that transit the Fraser River and Roberts Bank. In a statement, Sean Baxter, Harbour Master and Director of Marine Operations for the port authority, said partners across the gateway worked together to develop, test and adopt the system to streamline vessel movements, strengthen safety and ensure the port continues to back Canada’s trade diversification and economic resilience.

Second Narrows results from the Port of Vancouver centralized scheduling system

The centralized scheduling approach was first introduced in Burrard Inlet in late 2023 and then expanded gradually. Early results have been most visible in constrained waterways. In 2024, traffic through the Second Narrows rose by 56 per cent compared with the previous year.

Vessels transiting the Second Narrows pass under the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge and the Second Narrows Rail Bridge. The traffic includes commercial ships serving terminals in Vancouver and North Vancouver, with bulk carriers, general cargo ships, tugs and barges making up much of the mix. The port authority also notes that oil and fuel tankers have been passing through the area in growing numbers since the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion began operations in 2024, as described by Trans Mountain Corporation, with greater volumes of Albertan crude oil reaching the Westridge Marine Terminal in Burrard Inlet in North Burnaby.

CN Rail gains from better vessel traffic management visibility

Better visibility of ship movements has also supported rail operations tied to North Shore terminals. Canadian National (CN) Rail says it has increased the number of trains serving those terminals by 10 per cent each week, helping reduce delays and improve the flow of goods.

Brad Butterwick, Vice President of Transportation for Western Region for CN, said the centralized scheduling system provides critical visibility over vessels transiting — or scheduled to transit — under the Second Narrows Rail Bridge. That allows CN to anticipate when the bridge will need to be lifted and adjust train or vessel movements accordingly, which CN also describes in its overview of CN and Port of Vancouver collaboration. He added that the system, combined with collaboration with the port authority, helps reduce the likelihood of congestion, minimize wait times and support a more predictable flow of freight in and out of the Port of Vancouver.

On the rail side of the crossing, the southern end of the vertical-lift Second Narrows Rail Bridge transitions directly into the 3.2-km-long Thornton Tunnel — CN Rail’s north-south, single-track freight railway deep under Burnaby neighbourhoods. The tunnel’s southern portal is in the Brentwood district, where the railway connects to an east-west railway trunk line.

Fraser River pilots highlight safety benefits

Marine pilots guiding large ships through the narrow and fast-changing Fraser River say the Port of Vancouver centralized scheduling system is especially valuable in challenging conditions. Captain Gord Cooper, chair of the Fraser River Pilots Committee, said the river’s confined waters and changing flow conditions create unique navigational challenges, and that the platform adds an important layer of visibility supporting safer and more predictable deep-sea vessel transits.

With the system fully in place, port officials say more than 450 registered users across the marine supply chain can better plan ship arrivals, departures and cargo movements. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority expects the improved coordination to keep freight moving efficiently through Canada’s largest and most diverse port, benefiting businesses and consumers across the country.

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