Canada invests $30 million at Quebec ports as part of green corridor program

As part of its Green Shipping Corridor Program, the Canadian government has announced that up to $30 million will be invested at two ports in the Province of Quebec. The funding will be of benefit to several Green Marine participants in lowering emissions in the corridor spanning from Thunder Bay, Ontario, to St. John’s in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Green Shipping Corridor Program is a key part of Canada’s strategy to decarbonize the marine industry with the collaboration of industry stakeholders, Indigenous partners, environmental organizations, and Transport Canada. The projects aim to build the supply chain sustainability, improve air and water quality, strengthen climate resilience, and support job creation in a lower carbon economy.

At the Port of Quebec, up to $22.5 million will go towards a major dock electrification project. This shore-side electrification will provide cleaner power for cruise ships at berth. The project also includes the dockside electrification for cargo ships in collaboration with Fednav.

The other two projects are destined for the Port of Montreal. Up to $3.05 million has been dedicated to developing a shore-power system for ships operating at the Viterra Terminal, where Canada Steamship Lines delivers grain from the Great Lakes. The ships will be able to leverage the shore-power system while docked.

A second project involves spending just under $4.5 million to develop a shore-power system for ships operating at the Bickerdike Terminal, which receives vessels from the Oceanex vessels that shuttle between the ports of Montreal and St. John’s.

The program’s funding removes barriers to adopting low-emission technologies, encourages partnerships for greenhouse gas reduction, and builds capacity among Canadian vessel operators to integrate next-generation technologies and fuels.