November 3, 2022, Halifax, Nova Scotia – The Halifax Port Authority (HPA) will start infilling the basin between Piers A-1 and B at Ocean Terminals in the Port of Halifax on Monday, November 7. The Fairview Cove Sequestration Facility will no longer be accepting slate beyond Friday, November 4.

Planning for this project has been underway since it was first announced in January. Non-containerized cargo operations have been moved to other parts of Ocean Terminals and Richmond Terminals. The Pier A-1 Infilling Project was identified as part of HPA’s long-term planning and outlined in the 50-Year Plan released earlier this year. This project will ensure efficient and safe terminal operations well into the future and will contribute to more environmentally sustainable operations overall.

The infilling is expected to take approximately three to five years to complete, although the timeframe could be extended and will depend largely on local development and the volume of pyritic slate being generated by construction projects. During that time, an estimated 500,000 cubic metres of infill material will be used, plus finishing material, to create an additional 3.2 hectares (approximately 8 acres) of yard space.

This project will occur within the existing footprint of industrial cargo operations. A Fisheries Act Authorization was granted in 2018 by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Fisheries Act Authorization 18 HMAR-00014) and habitat offsetting will be implemented. 260 artificial reefs, also known as reef balls, will be installed as a method of marine environmental remediation over the entire life of the infilling project.

About the Port of Halifax:

The Port of Halifax is Canada’s Ultra Atlantic Gateway, connecting to more than 150 countries. In 2021, the total impact of the Port of Halifax on the Province of Nova Scotia was $4.37 billion in economic output with the direct portion being $2.72 billion. This level of activity generated direct and spin-off positive impacts of $2.22 billion in GDP, $1.42 billion in labour income and over 22,400 jobs.

Offering a natural, deep harbour and big ship infrastructure, Halifax can accommodate large volumes of containerized cargo, bulk cargo and project cargo. Collaborating and working with strong partners and stakeholders, the Port community in Halifax continues to deliver excellence.