PORT OF QUÉBEC KICKS OFF 2024 AND SPEEDS UP THE PACE FOR SHORE POWER

01/11/2024

Québec City, January 11, 2024 — The Port of Québec kicked off 2024 with the 189th annual presentation of the Gold-Headed Cane, the oldest tradition in its rich history.

On January 3, at 2:12 a.m., the Cap Corpus Christi sailed in from the Gulf of Mexico to weigh anchor at the South Shore’s Valero facilities. Port of Québec CEO Mario Girard was on hand to present the Cane to ship Captain Pantelis Kaimakis. 

The Port of Québec held its traditional new year's meeting with nearly 300 members of the community, and took the opportunity to review the past year, which was marked by a good post-pandemic recovery. The Port is determined to continue strengthening its close ties with the community, meet the challenge of decarbonizing its operations and confirm its role as a maritime hub. It was also announced that shore power will be its top priority.

A Good Year
Although 2023 has just ended, the Port is already drafting an initial assessment of its results. By all accounts, the Port handled more goods last year than the previous year, with some 27.9 million tonnes of goods transhipped.

The last 12 months saw numerous achievements:

• Deployment of the 2023-2026 strategic plan and Vision 2035.
• Development of the third ESG sustainable development action plan for 2024-2028.
• Establishment of a working group dedicated to developing the port territory biodiversity and ecosystems with representatives of the Capitale-Nationale Regional Environment Council, Québec City administration, the Huron-Wendat Nation and several other representatives of expert organizations.
• Strengthening of the partnership with the St. Lawrence Action Fund to finance port territory conservation and ecosystem development projects.
• In collaboration with 2 Degrés, development of a call for innovative projects in response to the many environmental challenges we are facing, for which the Port has made its infrastructure, network of contacts and expertise available for innovative startups.
• Recreational activities on the Port's territory including the Oasis, La Cale, the Nordik Village, the maritime family festival, and, of course, its popular sugar shack.
• A cruise season reflecting the efforts made toward responsibly and sustainably developing the industry: 154,000 passengers, 28 companies and 41 different ships completing 131 stopovers. These efforts earned Québec City Porthole Cruise and Travel Magazine’s award for best cruise destination in Canada/New England.
• Strengthened collaborations between the Ports of Montréal, Trois-Rivières and Québec. 

“2023 was a pivotal year during which we unveiled our Vision 2035 and a strategic plan aiming far and wide. Primarily, we wish to champion decarbonization, protection of the environment and biodiversity, while continuing our rise to world leader in achieving durable and resilient supply chains. Above all, we wish to be recognized for our respect of citizens’ concerns and our desire to enhance their quality of life through recreational activities and areas on our territory. If 2023 was the year of innovation, let 2024 be the first step toward electrification” added Mr. Girard.

About Port of Québec
The Québec Port Authority, a non-profit organization, manages the port of Québec which is strategically located to serve North America’s industrial and agricultural heartland. This Canadian hub for international trade for both the import and export of goods is the only port in the province of Québec with a fifteen-meter depth of water at low tide and a comprehensive intermodal infrastructure. The port facilities generate 10,000 jobs and about two billion dollars in economic activity.

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Source and information:
Frédéric Lagacé
Communications Director
[email protected]
418 929 5031