Canada, Connected

By Simon West

Joel Werner, COO of DP World in Canada, shares insight on the Dubai-based global port operator’s expansion drive, its role in supporting Canada’s green energy and critical mineral sectors and its investment in new technologies such as hydrogen fuel cell cranes.

(2-minute read)

Q: DP World has been selected to design and operate a new container terminal at Montreal Port. How does this expansion strengthen your position along the St. Lawrence corridor and complement West and East Coast gateways?

JW: The future Contrecœur terminal will be DP World’s sixth port facility in Canada, adding a vital new access point along the St. Lawrence corridor. It strengthens Quebec’s role as a critical gateway while opening new markets, improving cargo flows and bolstering Canada’s global trade connections.

Montreal completes a truly coast-to-coast Canadian network that already includes Vancouver, Fraser Surrey, Nanaimo, Prince Rupert and Saint John. Together, these gateways provide shippers with end-to-end connectivity, direct rail access to inland markets and multiple routing options to Europe, Asia and beyond. By diversifying Canada’s trade corridors, we’re giving customers flexibility to avoid congestion, reduce supply chain risk and unlock new growth opportunities.

Q: How is DP World positioning itself to handle Canada's growing renewable energy and critical minerals sectors? Can you share one or two examples of how your expertise in oversized and project cargo is enabling energy transition projects?

JW: Canada’s energy transition is driving new demand for complex logistics solutions, and DP World is well-positioned to deliver. Our Canadian terminals have decades of expertise handling oversized cargo — from wind turbines to mining equipment and critical mineral shipments. For example, in Saint John, we partnered with Canpotex to manage potash exports essential to global food and fertilizer supply. On the West Coast, our Prince Rupert and Vancouver facilities have supported renewable energy and mining projects with expedited rail access to project sites.

Our Fraser Surrey terminal regularly handles large project cargo, such as tunnel boring machines and electrical infrastructure in support of public transportation and electrification projects. The Fraser Surrey terminal also hosts the first rotating-container (‘rotainer’) bulk-handling system at a North American marine port, cutting dust emissions and product loss while delivering significant cost and environmental benefits for mineral-concentrate shippers. These capabilities allow us to actively support Canada’s critical minerals strategy and the broader energy transition.

Q: How does DP World’s investment in areas such as short-sea shipping and specialized facilities fit into your long-term Canadian growth strategy?

JW: Our Canadian strategy is focused on building an integrated, end-to-end logistics ecosystem that connects producers directly to global markets. Investments in short-sea shipping, freight forwarding, cold storage and transload hubs allow us to provide “factory floor to customer door” solutions. In Vancouver, we are advancing a short-sea shipping service with Nanaimo to cut truck traffic and emissions.

In Toronto, we expanded freight forwarding operations to complement our national port footprint, while we are actively developing our presence in Montreal following the Contrecœur announcement. In Saint John, our partnership with Americold is creating its first Canadian import-export hub, supporting food and pharmaceutical industries. And on Vancouver Island, the Duke Point Terminal expansion will nearly double berth length and boost handling capacity to 280,000 TEUs annually by 2027. Together, these investments create resilience, efficiency, and growth opportunities for Canadian businesses.

Q: How do DP World's pilot projects in hydrogen fuel cell cranes and advanced digital tools like CARGOES Flow improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact in Canada?

JW: Innovation underpins how we operate in Canada. At our Vancouver terminal, DP World completed the world’s first successful operational introduction of a hydrogen fuel cell-powered rubber-tired gantry crane. Over the past nine months, the crane has emitted only water vapor, avoiding 300,000 kilograms of CO₂ compared to a diesel model. If scaled, this technology could redefine terminal operations across Canada.

Digitally, our CARGOES Flow platform is modernizing freight forwarding by improving shipment visibility, streamlining workflows and reducing delays. At Duke Point, we’re also integrating electrical upgrades and coastal habitat enhancements into the terminal expansion to cut emissions and future-proof operations. These pilots show how digitalization and clean technology go hand in hand to deliver more efficient, sustainable supply chains.

Q: Amid ongoing global supply chain volatility, how is DP World helping Canadian shippers diversify their trade corridors and reduce risk?

JW: DP World’s global network and Canadian presence give shippers multiple pathways to move cargo reliably. Prince Rupert offers the fastest trans-Pacific service to Asia with direct rail access to the Midwest. On the East Coast, Saint John is emerging as a robust Atlantic alternative with new cranes, workforce growth and a path to one million TEUs in capacity.

On Vancouver Island, the Duke Point expansion adds capacity and redundancy to Canada’s Pacific gateway. We’re also strengthening resilience by supporting the Gemini Cooperation with reliable container services linking Asia, Europe and North America. By integrating our ports with inland connections and advanced logistics services, we help Canadian exporters and importers diversify trade corridors, reduce congestion risk and maintain dependable supply chains in an unpredictable global market.

DP World will be exhibiting at Breakbulk Americas 2025.

Top photo: Project cargo is handled at Nanaimo, Canada. Credit: DP World