Policies and Planning
Port of Halifax is a leader in excellent port operations and policies. The Halifax Port Authority has been recognized for its commitment to safety, security and the environment. Learn more about our initiatives, policies and procedures.
Planning and Upcoming Projects
The Impact Assessment Act came into effect on August 28, 2019. To meet the requirements under this new act, the Halifax Port Authority is posting information about upcoming projects on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry for 30 calendar days. Members of the public are invited to review the project and post comments and feedback which the Halifax Port Authority will review and provide a notice of determination in a reasonable timeframe, including any mitigation measures considered in making the determination.
If you have questions about these updates to our planning process, please email planning@portofhalifax.ca.
Projects currently under consideration
Marine Container Examination Facility (MCEF)
The Halifax Port Authority is in the planning stages of a new Marine Container Examination Facility (MCEF) and associated access route to Fairview Cove Container Terminal. Details of the project are posted to the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry where everyone is invited to review the proposed designs and offer feedback.
About the project:
An appropriate Marine Container Examination Facility (MCEF) within the Port of Halifax is required to optimize rapid and reliable container inspections for Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). This facility must be safe, secure and efficient to maintain ongoing international intermodal operations at the Port.
The Halifax Port Authority (HPA), in collaboration with the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), its container terminals, CN, municipal planners and key stakeholders envisions building a new MCEF on port land next to the Fairview Cove Container Terminal (FCCT). This project would have several advantages in increasing fluidity through this portion of the supply chain.
This project would reduce container truck movements between the existing facility in Burnside Industrial Park, reduce the current time it takes to get a container from a container terminal to the current facility in Burnside and potentially further reduce truck traffic on municipal roadways given its proximity to FCCT. Overall, this project would provide additional employment opportunities for the local community during construction, enable enhanced security, reduce truck movements through downtown Halifax and across the A. Murray MacKay Bridge (MacKay Bridge) while reducing port congestion and GHG emissions.
The environmental impact of this project would be minimal as the proposed location is on the already created landmass adjacent to FCCT.
Additional information about the project can be found on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry website here: https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/81089.
