Halifax Port Authority

The Halifax Port Authority (HPA) is a port authority operating as a federally regulated Crown corporation of the Government of Canada. HPA has responsibility of managing 260 acres federally owned marine industrial land in Halifax Harbour.

Contents

• Halifax port authority preparing for next stage in global shipping
• Halifax port authority economic impact report
• Facilities
• References

The HPA was created on March 1, 1999 and succeeds the Halifax Port Corporation (HPC). HPC was the successor to the National Harbours Board, which operated all federally owned ports in Canada. Halifax was one of the first of eighteen national ports in Canada which implemented this administrative change as required by the Canada Marine Act which passed on June 11, 1998.

Strategically located as North America's first inbound and last outbound gateway, the Port of Halifax is the deepest, wide, ice-free harbour with minimal tides and is two days closer to Europe and one day closer to Southeast Asia(via the Suez Canal) than any other North American East Coast port. In addition, it is one of just a few eastern seaboard ports able to accommodate and service fully laden post-Panamax container ships using the latest technology and world class security.

The HPA has invested over $100 million over the past three year in a long-term capital plan, acquiring land and focused on efficiency improvements to ensure the Port has modern infrastructure and well-utilized assets that position Halifax to compete for cargo and cruise business.

With 19 world's top shipping lines calling the Port, including transshipment, feeder ship services and direct access to Canadian National Railway (CN) inland network, the Port of Halifax is connected virtually to every market in North America and over 150 countries worldwide supporting the delivery of all types of cargoes. Annually the Port handles over 1,500 vessels, generates more than 11,190 jobs and $1.5 billion in economic impact.

In addition to being one of the world's largest natural harbors for breakbulk, bulk, roll-on/roll-off, containerized and project cargoes, the Halifax seaport has become an increasingly popular port of call for cruise ships from around the world. In 2013, the Port of Halifax had 134 cruise vessel calls with just over 252,000 passengers aboard. It is estimated that cruise passengers alone spend about $50 million for Halifax's economy every year.