REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION FOR LAURENTIA CONTAINER TERMINAL AT PORT OF QUÉBEC
04/17/2020
Québec City, April 17, 2020 – The Québec Port Authority (QPA) and Québec Container Terminal Limited, a corporation whose shareholders are Hutchison Ports Canada Limited and 9746412 Canada Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian National Railway Company (CN), today announced the launch of a request for qualification to pre-qualify leading companies for the next stage in the request for proposals process for the design and construction of the Laurentia project at the Port of Québec.
The QPA plans to break ground on the new container terminal in the spring of 2021, provided that all required government authorizations have been obtained, particularly with respect to the project impact assessment being conducted by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada.
The request for qualification is a public procurement process open to all businesses and individuals interested in qualifying to bid at the request for proposals stage for work that will begin once the environmental assessments have been obtained. Evaluations based on technical and financial criteria will determine which candidates move on to the next stage.
https://www.merx4.merx.com/public/solicitations/1328773563/abstract?language=FR
https://www.merx4.merx.com/public/solicitations/1328773563/abstract?language=EN
This design-build procurement process is particularly well suited to major construction projects such as Laurentia. It is also a way to organize design and construction specifications in a clear contractual framework based on performance targets related to work quality, cost and schedule. The project will showcase Québec’s expertise and create skilled jobs for the duration of the project.
Quotes
“The Québec Port Authority, in conjunction with Québec Container Terminal Limited, comprising Hutchison Ports and Canadian National Railway, is embarking on a critical new phase to identify and secure the best qualified resources for the construction of the Laurentia project. As the most environmentally and technologically advanced container terminal in North America, this major project will further strengthen the economic security of Quebec and Eastern Canada and their place in the global supply chain.” – Mario Girard, President and CEO,Québec Port Authority
“Hutchison Ports Québec is pleased to partner with the Port of Québec and CN for the construction of the Laurentia container terminal. Québec City will become Hutchison Ports’ gateway to the East Coast of North America. With a fully intermodal deepwater port, a strategic location with ready access to the U.S. Midwest and strong support from local authorities, the Québec City deepwater terminal project has everything it needs to succeed in this vital strategic market.” – Clemence Cheng, Executive Director, Hutchison Ports
“CN is proud to be partnering with Hutchison Ports Québec and the Québec Port Authority on the Laurentia project. This project is directly tied into CN’s unique tri-coastal network, providing customers with opportunities and reach into Canada and the U.S. Midwest. As the world economy enters a recovery phase, this project will create jobs and enable trade. We would like to thank local stakeholders and elected officials for their support.” – Jean-Jacques Ruest, President and CEO, CN
About Laurentia
With a joint $775 million investment from Hutchison Ports, CN and the Port of Québec, Laurentia will be the greenest deepwater container terminal in North America. It will provide the fastest and most cost-effective access to North American markets by opening a new marine highway between Southeast Asia and the Port of Québec as of 2024.
The Laurentia project will create 7,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs (equal to 1,750 full-time jobs a year) in Canada during the 2021–2024 construction phase and another 1,000 indirect, induced and high-paid direct jobs in Canada once commissioned. It will also improve and secure the supply chain and create export opportunities for Québec and Canada.
Distinctive design features
Laurentia is the most environmentally and technologically advanced project of its kind. The state-of-the-art terminal will be semi-automated and have a low carbon footprint. Other advantages include:
• 40% less greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than a conventional terminal
• A much smaller carbon footprint on the St. Lawrence River
• Less noise
• Less lighting and glare
• Better air quality
• Significantly less dredging
• A healthier, safer work environment for employees
• The equipment used (cranes, bridge cranes, work trucks, etc.) will be electric or hybrid, significantly reducing GHG emissions.
• Laurentia will be able to generate more throughput than comparable terminals in North America as measured by the number of containers handled per m2 of space, and the dredging area will be an estimated 43% smaller.
• Transporting granular materials by rail instead of by road will pull 77,000 trucks off the road.
• Québec City’s strategic location will cut truck distance travelled by 7 million kilometres once the terminal is up and running.
• The terminal design includes a visual and sound barrier between the operational and recreational sectors and limits the noise impact by positioning equipment as far from residential areas as possible.
• The project supply chain will consist of one to three ships a week and one import train, one export train and 90 trucks per day, for a total of 180 daily movements six days a week.
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Inquiries
Stéphane Michaud
Interim Vice-President, Communications
[email protected]
418-254-9115