Opportunities for Maritime Hub and Spoke Transshipment in Canada

The domestic shipping industry is integral to enhancing Canada’s competitiveness in global trade and development, which is a Government of Canada priority. This overarching objective permeates the Transportation 2030 strategic plan established by Transport Canada. Promoting domestic short sea shipping (SSS) services aligns with government priorities and will assist in keeping the Canadian Maritime industry competitive and responsive to an evolving economy and international shipping industry. The Canadian SSS sector represents a potential underutilized shipping solution that could be used to position Canada as an important point of access in the North American market and aid in increasing Canada’s profile in the international shipping sphere. In 2008, Transport Canada completed the Study on Potential Hub-and-Spoke Container Transhipment Operations in Eastern Canada for Marine Movements of Freight (Short Sea Shipping), which assessed the viability for feeder and regional short sea shipping services, especially in Eastern Canada, in terms of traffic potential and competitive costs. The study concluded that the feeder and regional SSS sectors can play a more important role in the movement of freight in Eastern Canada should they receive funding and increase development. In light of the significant changes in the international and domestic marine sectors since the 2008 study and in consideration of the need to assess the potential SSS developments on a national level, Transport Canada would like to revisit the viability and opportunities for undertaking maritime hub-and-spoke transhipment operations in Canada and between Canada and the United States (US)