Around the Port

A YEAR OF TRANSITION

AS COVID-19 CAUSES CHANGES TO PORT EXERCISES AND BUSINESS PLANS, CONTAINERIZED CARGO TRAFFIC RALLIES IN LATE 2020 AND A LIVING LAB TAKES SHAPE

By Tom Peters

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about many changes in the way people and organizations operate. The Halifax Port Authority (HPA), for example, will hold its annual security training session online for the first time.

The annual security session, mandated by Transport Canada as per its marine security regulations, is an exercise that gives the Port and all other government regulated facilities in the harbour an opportunity to test and revamp emergency protocols and procedures.

“We as a port have to do this every year and we invite all the other players in the Port to take part,” says Port security officer Aaron Dickson, HPA’s manager of port security and emergency preparedness.

Last year’s session drew 75 participants, including 17 marine facilities, agencies from the three levels of government, police agencies, Canada Border Services Agency, and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.

Organizers determine the exercise’s program with input from the various participants. Dickson explains the security scenario could deal with piracy, a hijacking, a terrorist attack, or even an environmental issue. Consultants help develop the exercise program.

HPA has two operations centres. There is the Primary Control Centre which handles day-to-day operations and the Emergency Coordination Centre. “That room is full of monitors, computers, maps, charts, and is the nerve centre to help facilitate an emergency and that is where the Port team would go [in the event of a security issue],” Dickson says.He adds that HPA has an Incident Command System (ICS), a formal program to specifically manage emergencies.

The federal government has established three marine security levels (MARSEC). One is normal, two is when there is a heightened alert from the federal government, and three is when something serious happens or there is knowledge that something is imminent.

The Port hasn’t had a serious security event in decades. However, in 2014 the security team was mobilized when there was a potential for a serious environmental issue with a shipping container containing uranium hexachloride, a radioactive and highly corrosive material.

“That could have been a hazardous situation but fortunately it wasn’t,” said Dickson. But the incident did lead to changes in the emergency communications structure and how the various agencies communicate. Port security methods evolve continuously, and he believes this this year’s virtual security exercise will be vital to that process.

Cargo 2020 A strong fourth quarter helped the Halifax Port Authority (HPA) cut its losses in container cargo with an overall TEU count down 7.2% in 2020 compared to 2019, according to HPA statistics. Container cargo grew 2.7% in the fourth quarter to 133,277 TEU, compared to 129,808 during the same period in 2019.

Overall for the year, the Port handled 507,185 TEU, compared to 546,691 TEU in 2019. “Given the year that it has been, that is a pretty good outcome,” says HPA media relations manager Lane Farguson. “It was one of those years you could never predictand it’s so unlike anything we had seen before.”

The Port’s cargo numbers rebounded in the fourth quarter of 2020.

The Port’s expertise with special-project cargo remains in demand.

January started with the closure of Northern Pulp in Pictou, which translated into a 4% decrease for the year in the Port’s container cargo. Following that in February were rail disruptions across the country as a result of protests for First Nations’ rights.

Then in March, COVID-19 struck. The early months of the pandemic resulted in a decrease in global manufacturing. In the second half of 2020 there was a surge in manufacturing as production ramped up. In August, a 12-day labour disruption in Montreal diverted cargo to Halifax; it took weeks to clear that cargo backlog.

“The fact we finished strong for fourth quarter and finished only 7.2% down to the year previous was better than we had anticipated at about the midpoint of the year,” Farguson said.

A bright spot in non-containerized cargo at both HPA and non-HPA facilities was tonnage increases of 11.6% and 11.4% respectively. HPA facilities handled 186,603 tonnes and non-HPA facilities handled 2,221,654 tonnes.

Steady grain shipments through Ocean Terminals in the second half of the year bolstered these numbers, contributing to the 5% year-over-year increase. Farguson added that Richmond Terminal was steady as flex space for offshore decommissioning work and also used as overflow space for automobiles earlier in the year.

Port-wide tonnage for both HPA and non-HPA facilities showed imports at 3,800,761 tonnes, down 8.3% from 2019 and exports at 4,472,696 tonnes for 2020 down just 0.1% compared to 2019.

Overall tonnage at the Port in 2020 was 8,273,457 tonnes.

No cruise season With the federal government restrictions banning cruise ships from Canadian waters recently renewed, Halifax faces a second year without a cruise season. (Details on page 6). This follows the loss of the 2020 season, which was set to be record-breaking.

The news is disappointing but not shocking to industry stakeholders, as Farguson says HPA did fiscal planning on the assumption no cruise ships would visit.

Real-estate changes Major changes are coming to the historic Halifax Seaport District with the development of an innovative “living hub” and the relocation and transformation of the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market.

Farguson says in a press release that the Seaport Market will relocate and transform into “a dynamic outdoor operation during the warmer months and a successful indoor weekend farmers’ market operating within Pavilion 22 during the winter months.” The market will be open on Saturday and Sunday during winter.

“In the summer months we are going to repurpose the front parking lot and put an industrial strength canopy on top and turn that into an outdoor air market with all the amenities the vendors need,” Farguson says. “A lot of people liked to meet with the farmers outside in an area not so crowded and busy… [HPA] will work to make a festival atmosphere surrounding the market to make it something that people will want to experience regardless of where they are from.”

The present space being vacated by the farmers’ market will be home to the new “livinglab,” featuring flexible working and meeting space for industry stakeholders, complemented with virtual collaboration tools to link people worldwide.

Andrew Black, the HPA’s director of strategic technology, says the lab will be a space where the HPA and Port partners will share resources and initiatives to tackle major problems and issues. Renovations of the space are scheduled to continue through spring and summer. A virtual opening is planned for this spring, with the goal of a physical opening in early autumn.

Black says the lab concept, championed by HPA president and CEO Capt. Allan Gray, will bring the world to Halifax to debate and solve issues with a marine sector focus on transportation and supply chain logistics.

HPA also aims for the lab to better connect Halifax and its Port, part of the “good neighbour” strategy to work together and make mutually beneficial decisions.

The marine community is on board. “[The lab] will bring the world to Halifax,” Black says, adding that he sees the lab as an opportunity to create a global centre of excellence. “We have not been shy on our ambition on this.” Q