DP World has achieved a significant milestone in its Salish Sea Gateway initiative with the arrival of a new mobile harbour crane at its Vancouver terminal. This development, announced on April 22, 2026, is a key step toward enhancing cargo-handling capabilities on Canada's West Coast and supporting high-frequency short-sea shipping services.
Key Milestone for Coastal Shipping Service
The crane, manufactured by Liebherr, was delivered to the Port of Vancouver on April 19 after a journey from Rostock, Germany, aboard the MV Aretha. This versatile, high-capacity asset is designed to efficiently handle various cargo types, including containers, breakbulk, and bulk commodities. Its mobility allows it to operate across multiple berths and vessel types, improving terminal productivity and enabling faster, more efficient cargo transfers between marine and landside operations.
Investment in Regional Connectivity
Doug Smith, CEO of DP World in Canada, emphasized the importance of this investment. He stated, "Our investment in the mobile harbour crane is an important step in advancing the Salish Sea Gateway and strengthening how cargo moves between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. By investing in dedicated marine infrastructure, we are creating a more reliable and efficient coastal shipping option that enhances connectivity to global markets through Vancouver and supports regional supply chain resilience."
The crane will play a central role in the Salish Sea Gateway facility, which remains on track for launch in mid-2026. This CAD$22 million infrastructure project provides an additional option for moving cargo via a dedicated marine connection, linking regional transportation networks with established marine and landside supply chains.
Environmental and Economic Benefits
Named in acknowledgment of the Coast Salish Nations on whose traditional territories the project is located, the facility will serve as a dedicated coastal trade hub. It will enable cargo to move efficiently across the Georgia Strait using dedicated vessels, offering flexibility during periods of high demand or disruption.
By enabling efficient vessel loading and unloading, the mobile harbour crane will support high-frequency short-sea service and reliable barge connections, improving cargo velocity and schedule reliability across regional transportation networks. Over time, the Salish Sea Gateway is expected to support more efficient cargo flows, with the potential to reduce truck movements, lower emissions, and strengthen supply chain resilience by diversifying transportation options for importers, exporters, and domestic shippers.
Strengthening Multimodal Connectivity
The addition of the mobile harbour crane reflects DP World's broader strategy to invest in infrastructure that integrates marine, rail, and landside operations into a seamless supply chain. At Vancouver, these investments are focused on improving cargo velocity, expanding handling flexibility, and enabling new service offerings that better align with evolving customer needs.
This advancement underscores DP World's commitment to enhancing trade flows and supporting sustainable economic growth in British Columbia through innovative logistics solutions.
