Vancouver Airport Fuel Delivery Project

New Stacker Reclaimer Project
Public Engagement Summary Report
September 2012
1.0
Project Overview
As part of ongoing upgrades and modernization of terminal infrastructure, Neptune Terminals is
continually making strategic investments to improve the terminal’s steelmaking coal handling
operations.
Neptune Terminals has announced that, it will be installing a new stacker reclaimer replacing an older,
smaller unit currently in use. This new equipment will be installed within the terminal’s existing
footprint and will allow the terminal to improve efficiency and operating flexibility by simultaneously
moving steel-making coal from trains to the stockpiles and directly from stockpiles onto vessels. The
new stacker reclaimer will further enhance Neptune’s environmental measures with a best-in-class dust
suppression system.
2.0
Notification & Outcomes
In May 2011, Neptune Terminals publicly announced a $63.5 million dollar investment in their steelmaking coal operations. The largest component of this announcement was the purchase of a $45
million stacker reclaimer, to be built in British Columbia.
In November 2011, Neptune Terminals and Ramsay Machine Works announced the new equipment
would be built at the Ramsey yard in Sidney, B.C. The Government of British Columbia celebrated the
announcement with Neptune and Ramsey. Then Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Blair
Lekstrom participated in the media event, local MLA Murray Coell was quoted in the news release and
Victoria based Minister Ida Chong and Minister Naomi Yamamoto from North Vancouver also attended
the announcement.
The media coverage surrounding both releases focused on the economic investment and job creation
for North Vancouver and Sidney, making note of BC manufacturing and the increased capacity that
would result from the stacker reclaimer project. Media coverage has entirely been through various print
outlets, the North Shore Outlook has covered the staker reclaimer investment through-out the entire
process.
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As part of Port Metro Vancouver’s (PMV) regulatory review process, Neptune has undertaken two
recent community notification processes for other terminal improvements: phosphate rock investments
(known as Project Craig) and additional steelmaking-coal investments (known as Project Allison). In the
communication materials prepared and distributed to municipal and provincial elected officials,
adjacent residents and businesses as well as First Nations (by Port Metro Vancouver), Neptune has
ensured the new stacker reclaimer has been included in the
list of recent and planned terminal improvements.
In addition to the public announcements and
communications material referred above, Neptune has held
two Community Open Houses (2011 and 2012) at the
terminal to allow local residents and neighbours to learn
about the Neptune’s operations and the plans for new
investments; information about the new stacker reclaimer
equipment was prominently displayed at these events.
Neptune Terminals also brought its model display to this
year’s COHO festival in September and Party-at-the-Pier
event in July 2012.
The attendees asked questions of all the terminal
improvement projects, including the new equipment and
were very interested in learning about the best in class dust
suppression technology being installed on the stacker
reclaimer.
Activities included:
 Two public announcements
 Mentioned within two separate news letters distributed to local community
 Informal briefings with elected officials as part of the ongoing communications regarding
terminal improvements
 Updated Neptune website with information about new equipment
(http://www.neptuneterminals.com/terminal-operations/terminal-improvements/)
2.1
Engagement Feedback
Neptune has received strong support from all levels of government about the overall terminal
improvements. Senior levels of government have been particularly supportive of the decision to
procure the equipment in Canada. The new stacker reclaimer will result in more permanent jobs at
Neptune Terminals and construction jobs at Ramsay Machine works in Sidney where the equipment is
being built.
Neptune is prepared for and fully anticipates ongoing community interest in the new stacker reclaimer.
While there has been considerable support and positive feedback from senior levels of government
public feedback specifically on the new equipment has been minimal.
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Overall, comments have been
overwhelmingly positive about the terminal
improvements and the installation of the
new equipment is part of the improvements.
Most importantly, the community has
appreciated Neptune Terminals efforts to
keep them informed and for the chance to
ask questions at various public functions
regarding the many projects underway at the
terminal. Concerns raised with Neptune
have been of a general nature regarding
operational noise and potential impacts on
neighbours in the community, as opposed to
specific inquiries or concerns about the
stacker reclaimer.
2.2
Neptune Outreach to Stakeholders
The following stakeholders were notified about the project and have the opportunity to submit
comments or questions to Neptune Terminals and/or directly to PMV:
Stakeholders
Engagement
North Shore Waterfront Liaison Committee
Mentioned in other improvement update
presentations.
City of North Vancouver
Mentioned as part of ongoing briefings to
keep mayor and council apprised of Neptune
Terminal’s investments and upgrades.
District of North Vancouver
Mentioned as part of ongoing briefings to
keep mayor and council apprised of Neptune
Terminal’s investments and upgrades.
North Vancouver residents, Parkgate area
businesses and adjacent North Shore Trade
Area terminals
Mentioned in two community householder
brochures distributed through Canada Post.
Delivered to postal codes:
 LC0123, LC0141, LC0121, LC0327
North Vancouver businesses in Park &
Tilford and along Brooksbank Avenue
Mentioned in two community householder
brochures distributed by hand
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Stakeholders
Engagement
Businesses & industry associations:
 E.g. Cargill, Richardson International,
CN Rail, CP Rail, Kinder Morgan
Terminals, Seaspan, Univar Canada,
Allied Shipbuilding, Canexus Limited,
Mountain Equipment Co-op,
Vancouver Pile Driving
 BCMEA
Mentioned as part of the ongoing dialogue to
keep them apprised of terminal improvements
Community partners:
 North Shore Neighbourhood House
 North Vancouver Chamber of
Commerce
 Capilano University
 North Shore Little League
 North Shore Community Resources
 Lower Lonsdale Business Association
Mentioned as part of the ongoing dialogue to
keep them apprised of terminal improvements
Neptune employees, ILWU foremen &
longshoremen
Mentioned as part of the ongoing dialogue to
keep staff apprised of upcoming terminal
improvements
North Vancouver MLAs & MP
 Minister Yamamoto
 Jane Thornthwaite
 Ralph Sultan
 Andrew Saxton
Mentioned as part of the ongoing dialogue to
keep them apprised of terminal
improvements, including informal
conversations, sending community
newsletters and at Community Open House.
North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce
Mentioned as part of the ongoing dialogue to
keep members apprised of terminal
improvements
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3.0
Going Forward
As Neptune Terminals works to secure final approval for the new stacker reclaimer it will continue to
provide the community, stakeholders and Port Metro Vancouver with regular updates on the company’s
website.
Specifically, the website will be updated with current information on the project status to help ensure
members of the community and public can remain informed of developments of the project, including:
 PMV permit approval
 Equipment installation start
 Construction completion
The public will also be notified of any new information that impacts the adjacent community, as
necessary, throughout the process. The site can be found at:
http://www.neptuneterminals.com/terminal-operations/terminal-improvements/
In addition to the website updates, Neptune Terminals will continue to keep various staff at PMV
apprised of any developments on the terminal during equipment installation.
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Appendix
News Release - May 2011
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News Release – British Columbia Government November 2011
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Community Householder (cover page)
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Website Homepage and Terminal Improvements Page
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Sample of media clips of Stacker reclaimer
NEPTUNE Terminals president Jim Belsheim stands in the soon to be expanded coal handling
facility on the North Vancouver waterfront.
By Jane Seyd
North Shore News
May 29, 2011
NORTH Vancouver's Neptune Terminals has announced plans to invest in $63.5 million worth of
equipment for its coal-handling facility that will eventually add 50 to 70 jobs to its 250-person
workforce.
Most of the investment will go into a new $45-million stacker-reclaimer, a large piece of equipment that
takes coal arriving from rail cars, delivers it to coal piles in Neptune's yard, then scoops it back on to
conveyers when it's time to load ships at the terminal's berths.
"It's a modern, sophisticated piece of technology," said James Belsheim, president of Neptune. He
added he expects the new stacker to be manufactured in British Columbia.
The new stacker will replace the smaller of two similar pieces of equipment currently used at the
terminal and allow the terminal to unload rail cars at the same time as ships are being loaded.
It will also increase the terminal's coal-handling capacity to 12.5 million tonnes annually from its present
eight million tonnes.
The $65-million investment also includes a $6.5 million mechanical rail car positioning system, designed
to move trains quietly on the site, and a $12 million power-system upgrade.
All of the projects are expected to be completed next year.
The big investment comes at a time when the 40-year-old terminal is handling record volumes of both
coal and potash. The coal boom is being driven by demand from Asian steel mills. Last year, Neptune
shipped more than six million tonnes of metallurgical coal. Results of this year's first quarter show
"we're on a similar and increasing pace," said Belsheim.
"It's a long-term investment," he added. "It's in response to what we see as the future of steel-making
coal around the world."
At the same time, Neptune is also in the midst of upgrading its potash-handling facility, which will boost
the terminal's handling capacity by 1.5 million tonnes annually to 10.5 million tonnes.
Shipments of potash -- a mineral used to make fertilizer -- soared by 143 per cent to 5.5 million tonnes
at the port last year. The lion's share of potash is shipped through Neptune Terminals.
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Last year, Neptune handled a total of 11.45 million tonnes of commodities, beating out the previous
record of 11.4 million tonnes set in 1998.
Coal loader deal buoys Ramsay: $20-million contract means security, hiring for Sidney firm
Andrew A. Duffy
Times Colonist
Published: Wednesday, November 30, 2011
A $63.5-million upgrade to a North Vancouver shipping terminal will translate into more than 20 new
jobs and more than a year of steady work for Sidney-based Ramsay Machine Works.
Neptune Terminals' investment in its facility includes a $20-million stacker-reclaimer - used to move coal
between stockpiles and vessels - that has been designed by EMSTech of Belleville, Ont., and will be built
in Sidney by Ramsay.
"This is definitely about job security," said Dave LeDrew, a Ramsay fabricator. "The last few years have
been a real struggle, every week wondering and waiting for that next job to come through the door.
"But to now be awarded a contract like this means for the next couple of years we don't have to worry
about being laid off and we can put all our talents and ambition into the product, and hopefully that will
lead to more things and kicks us over the downturn in the economy."
Greg Ramsay, president of the 108-year-old family-owned firm, noted the company has been able to
keep operating, if not busy, through the global economic downturn because of its reputation. But he
admits it feels like they have been waiting in the ondeck circle, itching to get back up to bat.
"The last few years have been tough, but it seems like things are turning around," Ramsay said.
He noted the company intends to add 20 new positions to its team and the project will mean work for
more than 100 subcontractors in Victoria. "This has a huge multiplier effect," Ramsay said.
The fabrication of the components of the machine will take about six months and it will then be
assembled on land at the airport and transported along the main runway before being loaded onto a
barge on Patricia Bay for shipping to North Vancouver.
Ramsay said there are signs from the resource industries that the economy is starting to pick up on the
West Coast and his company can take advantage of it.
"Things are happening in the province - mining is taking over from forestry and there are more projects
we can go after because of our location," he said. "And now companies are committing to
manufacturing in B.C. and that makes a big difference - we will be there for those customers over the
long term.
"It's a fundamental approach and I sure hope it carries on."
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Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Blair Lekstrom, on hand for the announcement Tuesday,
noted steelmaking coal exports to China have increased to 4.4 million tonnes from 140,000 tonnes over
the last four years.
Lekstrom said that increase is in part due to B.C.'s ability to ship coal efficiently, and Neptune's
investment is a sign that will only improve.
"From the government perspective this is about the private sector investing and investing significant
dollars, which creates jobs," he said.
The new stacker-reclaimer equipment and other upgrades are expected to increase coal handling
capacity at Neptune to 12.5 million tonnes per year up from nine million tonnes. Teck Resources, one of
Neptune's major shareholders, is expanding its steelmaking coal production in B.C. to meet global
demand.
Ramsay will now be looking for new workers and hope to attract and keep them with its "family
approach" and promise of long-term employment.
"Some people like to work for companies that have concern for their employees and their longterm
future," said Ramsay, noting they will be working with local trades schools and hoping good wordofmouth will bring them the talent they will need.
But there will be little rest for the company, which spent a year landing the deal for this stackerreclaimer.
"Even though the project is a year's duration we will soon be looking for something else," said Ramsay.
He said while the vast majority of the shipbuilding work contracted to Vancouver Shipyards by the
federal government in October will be done in Vancouver, there's hope his company might find some
work when the projects start rolling out. "We are pursuing that - it's about figuring out how we can fit in
and what we can offer," he said.
2011 exports a record for Neptune
By Jane Seyd
North Shore News
March 4, 2012
POTASH exports from North Vancouver's Neptune Terminals continued a skyrocketing climb last year,
pushing the overall volume of commodities shipped from the North Vancouver terminal into a record
year.
Neptune handled just under 13 million metric tonnes last year - the most ever shipped through the
terminal, according to Neptune president Jim Belsheim.
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About half of that was potash. Fuelled by a jump in global food prices, exports of potash - a mineral
mined in Saskatchewan and used in fertilizers - have gone sky high in the past two years, more than
tripling since 2009.
In 2011, a record 7.2 million metric tonnes of potash was shipped through Neptune, a 30 per cent
increase over the year before.
The biggest markets for potash are Brazil, China and Indonesia.
Last year the company completed an expansion of its potash-handling facility to improve speed and
efficiency and allow faster loading of ships. The project has increased Neptune's annual potash handling
capacity to 11 million tonnes and boosted its workforce.
There are now about 300 people working at Neptune - compared to about 250 before. Belsheim said
those ranks could swell again to about 400 once the terminal completes the upgrade of its coal-handling
facility, currently underway.
Neptune is in the midst of investing $63.5 million worth of new equipment for its coal-handling facility
that will increase the terminal's coal-handling capacity to 12.5 million tonnes annually from its present
eight million tonnes.
The biggest component of that upgrade is a new $20-million stacker-reclaimer - the piece of equipment
that actually moves the coal - currently being built at Ramsay Machine Works near Victoria. "We made
the decision to have it built in British Columbia," said Belsheim. "We believe we'll get a higher quality
machine. "It'll be installed faster and easier."
A total of 20.9 tonnes of metallurgical coal and 11.7 million tonnes of thermal coal was shipped last year
through all of the port's terminals. Neptune only handles metallurgical coal, which goes to steel mills in
Asia. Most of that comes from mines in southeastern British Columbia.
Belsheim said he expects the record setting pace to continue this year.
"I'm very optimistic," he said. "Everything we know points to strong markets for both our primary
products."
Belsheim said that has direct spinoff benefits for the economy in North Vancouver. In a typical year past,
Neptune might spend $3 million buying from local businesses. "This year we will be $20 million or
higher," he said.
According to 2011 statistics recently released by Port Metro Vancouver, other significant volumes
shipped through port terminals last year included 5.8 million tonnes of wheat, 5.8 million tonnes of
canola and 4.6 million tonnes of lumber.
China, Korea and Japan were the biggest export markets.
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Canada imported 2.9 million tonnes of household goods and 1.8 million tonnes of construction materials
through the port last year, most of that from China.
New coal stacker-reclaimer for Ramsay Machine Works; no, it's not the new Transformer
By Darron Kloster
Times Colonist
August 18, 2012
Ramsay Machine Works is building another industrial monster, and this one's a bright teal colour and in
the open for everyone to see.
The Sidney-based manufacturer started to roll out a 1,500-tonne coal stacker-reclaimer on airport land
near its shop along MacDonald Park Road, where more than 50 workers will begin assembling the $20million machine.
The stacker-reclaimer, looking not unlike a giant Transformer toy, will eventually rise to 30.5 metres and
stretch 107 metres in length when completed over the coming months. After making sure everything fits
- including a massive bearing system to within five onehundredths of an inch - the company will take the
main sections apart and prepare it for transport to North Vancouver, probably in March.
The stacker-reclaimer is being built for Neptune Terminals and will be used to handle coal from Teck
Resources operations in B.C. for export to overseas markets. The machine will eventually be transported
down the main runway at Victoria International Airport and onto a barge at Pat Bay, where it will sail to
the mainland to be installed in North Vancouver.
The stacker-reclaimer will move coal between stockpiles and vessels bound for Asia. Teck is a major
shareholder in Neptune Terminal, which is undergoing a $65-million upgrade.
The contract win for the stacker-reclaimer, designed by EMS Tech of Belleville, Ont., meant more than a
year's work and 20 new jobs at Ramsay, a 109-year-old Victoria company. Since late last year, it has also
produced spinoff work for several local contractors, said president Greg Ramsay.
"It's not our biggest project, but it's up there," said Ramsay, citing a shiploader two years ago also bound
for Vancouver that was even larger. "It really turns a lot of heads when we get one of these things out
on the airport lands near the highway. People must wonder what the heck these things are when they
drive by."
Ramsay said the company has a 25-year lease agreement with the Victoria Airport Authority to use land
for larger projects and have access to the main runway to transport major pieces to the Pat Bay marine
terminal.
The provincial government said steelmaking coal exports to China have increased to 4.4 million tonnes
from 140,000 tonnes over the past four years. It said the increase is in part due to B.C.'s ability to ship
coal efficiently, and Neptune's investment is a sign that will improve.
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The new stacker-reclaimer equipment and other upgrades are expected to increase coal handling
capacity at Neptune to 12.5 million tonnes per year from nine million tonnes. Teck Resources is also
expanding its steelmaking coal production in B.C. to meet global demand.
Ramsay, 60, said the company is an active bidder on projects globally, but admitted he is hamstrung by
U.S. federal projects, which by law can only go to American firms. The same does not apply in Canada,
where U.S. firms often bid on Canadian projects.
Companies are also using offshore markets to build major machines because labour is so cheap. Ramsay
expressed dismay at Friday's announcement by businessman David Black, who is proposing to build a
$13-billion oil refinery near Kitimat. Black said most of the refinery pieces would be manufactured in
Asia to contain capital costs and make the project viable.
"In China, they pay $1 an hour. Here, the base wage is $30 an hour," said Ramsay.
"It's pretty tough to compete with that. I think the provincial government has to start offering some sort
of incentives for companies to build locally or our manufacturing industry is going to disappear
completely."
Ramsay hopes the federal government's $35-billion shipbuilding program in the next several decades
will provide spinoff work.
"We are pursuing that. It's about figuring out how we can fit in and what we can offer," he said.
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