In late 2018 a permit was granted to expand and ultimately replace the currently standing grain berth at Fraser Surrey Docks. The newly coined Fraser Grain Terminal will be located on port authority land in Surrey, BC accessible by bulk vessels through the Fraser River. The new project is the product of a 50/50 joint venture between GrainsConnect Canada and Canadian grain exporters Parrish & Heimbecker. GrainsConnect Canada is a collective enterprise between GrainCorp, an Australian agribusiness, and Zen-Noh Grain Corporation. According to their website (www.frasergrainterminal.ca) the “terminal will load approximately 80 bulk vessels per year (approx. 1-3 vessels per week), including Panamax, Supramax and Handy-size vessels. Work was slated to commence late 2018 with initial stages focusing on concrete pouring, utility removal, and underground utility installation. The terminals projected yearly output is proposed to increase up to “3.5 million metric tonnes per annum of grain products” among them – “wheat, barley, oil seeds, and pulses.” Target completion date for this project is December 2020.

Key features of the Fraser Grain Terminal include:

• Rail unloading station
• Transfer system comprising one transfer tower and fully enclosed above-ground conveying equipment with a built-in dust suppression system
• 25 above-ground steel storage silos (20 x 3,500 t, 4 x 400 t and 1 x 710 t)
• Three shiploaders with choke fed or cascading type telescopic spouts to reduce dust during vessel loading, replacing the existing ship loader fitted with older technology
• Semi-loop rail track
• Realignment of an existing rail track
• Extension to three existing rail holding tracks in an area to the north east of the main grain facility site to reduce shunting during unloading
• Construction of an integrated truck and railcar loading facility and container loading facility with associated container storage yard
• Construction of ancillary buildings — administration building, maintenance shop, and electrical rooms