PORT OF QUÉBEC REPORTS EXCELLENT FISCAL YEAR DESPITE THE PANDEMIC

The Port of Québec is also very proud to be the only port in America to achieve the highest level of environmental certification for a fourth consecutive year

Québec City, June 10, 2022 – At its Annual Public Meeting held today, the Québec Port Authority (QPA) presented the results of its activities for the year 2021. After the direct impact of COVID-19 in 2020, the Port has resumed with rising indicators and demonstrated its key role in maintaining supply chains. In addition to these results, the Port of Québec maintained, for a fourth consecutive year, the highest level of certification under the Green Marine program, whose objective is to guide the maritime industry towards environmental excellence.

Despite the pandemic, the Port and its partners were able to maintain the supply chains and logistics that connect the industrial and agricultural heartland of North America to the rest of the world. With 28.3 million tonnes of cargo handled at one or another of its wharves, an increase of 4.8% over 2020, the Port of Québec recorded the fourth-highest volume in its history.

“What we have learned over the past two years is how fragile things we take for granted can be. Health is the primary concern, of course, but so is the ability to access the products—often basic necessities—that we need. The pandemic caused major disruptions in global supply chains, leading to a collective awareness of the importance of each link. More than ever, the Port of Québec has proven to be a key player in the maintenance and operation of the supply chain and is uniquely positioned,” said Québec Port Authority President and CEO Mario Girard.

A well-positioned organization
Thanks to its many competitive advantages, the Port of Québec is well positioned to meet the demands of international trade. Its water depth and geographic location give various industries in Canada and across North America access to foreign markets, making the Port of Québec the cornerstone of bulk imports and exports in eastern Canada. 

“The public often knows little about how bulk commodities are used in many consumer products. However, what is transshipped to the Port of Québec is part of the daily lives of thousands of people and meets many needs. This includes raw sugar, salt, gasoline, grain, and other products that we consume on a regular basis. There are also fertilizers, which allow farmers here to grow their grain, fruits, and vegetables and provide feed for livestock. Some specialized alloy surgical instruments, our cellphones, certain pharmaceutical products, and even electric vehicle batteries use nickel that is transshipped here through Québec City. The transition to a greener, low-carbon economy will require the use of these types of strategic minerals transiting through the Port of Québec,” added Mr. Girard. 

Environment and sustainable development
Over the past year, the Port of Québec has taken concrete steps to maintain, for a fourth consecutive year, the highest level of certification in the Green Marine program. In fact, of the forty-nine participating North American port authorities, it is the only one to have maintained the highest level for all indicators over such a long period of time. The QPA adopted a roadmap that will help it achieve carbon neutrality. It carried out analyses to make Bassin Louise accessible for swimming and removed nearly one tonne of waste from Beauport Bay’s aquatic environment. It should be noted that the Port’s efforts toward sound waste management also led to the recycling of approximately 70,000 masks from the vaccination centre’s operations at the new cruise terminal. In December, the Port also launched the EcoCargo program, which offers shipowners using environmentally responsible practices a rate incentive on port fees. 

Upgraded infrastructure
The year 2021 was also very active in terms of infrastructure investments. Several restoration projects were carried out. In the past year, the Port of Québec repaired and stabilized the wharves in the east end of Anse au Foulon, in Bassin Louise, and in the Beauport sector. The Port (excluding operators) has invested over $173 million in its infrastructure over the past 10 years.

Cruise terminals
Located a few minutes from Old Québec, the new cruise terminal (Terminal 30) was completed in 2021 with the addition of a boarding bridge with a 21-metre range from the waterline. It is ready to receive its first cruise passengers in summer 2022. The Ross Gaudreault terminal welcomed 46,000 visitors in 2021 for a total of 106 events, including La Grande Braderie de mode de Québec, Semaine numériQC, and several others. Throughout the year, the QPA also worked closely with CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale to take part in the fight against COVID-19. With the help of Desgagnés, Ocean Group, QSL, G3, IMTT, and Béton Provincial, the Port of Québec lent a hand to the massive vaccination and screening operation by setting up one of the first vaccination centres at its Terminal 30 facility.

Cruise development 
Unfortunately, no international cruise ships called at the Port of Québec in 2021 for a second year in a row due to the pandemic. The industry recovered slowly, and by the end of 2021, about 80% of the global fleet was back in service. In 2021 the QPA demonstrated its leadership on the Association of Canadian Port Authorities (ACPA) Cruise Committee to identify issues in this sector and make recommendations for the resumption of post-pandemic international cruise operations. In collaboration with the Cruise the Saint Lawrence Association (CSLA), the QPA also developed the COVID-19 health protocols used by all St. Lawrence River ports.

Looking to the future
In short, the QPA demonstrated its resilience and a strong ability to bounce back. Looking to the future, the QPA is now working on its new 2022–2027 strategic plan, which will be presented in the coming year.
“We are working on the next strategic orientations. For us, certain matters are inevitable. The future of the Port of Québec will have to take into account the need for greener and more technological terminals. It will have to consider the need to make our supply chains more sustainable and resilient. It will also take into account the strategic nature of Quebec on transatlantic trade routes. Lastly, it will be essential for future projects to fit in with the relationships we have with our neighbours, our city, and our partners. This is the basis of our current thinking,” concluded Mario Girard.

About the Québec Port Authority
The Québec Port Authority is an autonomous shared-governance organization constituted under the Canada Marine Act. The ships that pass through the Port are central to a supply chain that moves approximately $20 billion in goods each year. The Port of Québec is a maritime hub that generates and supports over 13,000 direct and indirect jobs according to the latest KPMG/SECOR study.

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Source : 
Frédéric Lagacé
Communications Director
Québec Port Authority
418 929-5031
[email protected]