The Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) is welcoming funding from the Federal Government to relieve supply chain congestion at the Port of Hamilton.

On November 10, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra announced CAN$4.9 million ($3.67 million) in funding under the National Trade Corridors Fund for the Building Capacity in Canada’s Steel Supply Chain project.

“As the largest port in Ontario, the Port of Hamilton is the key supply chain gateway for steel and other essential goods that feed the region’s economy,” said Ian Hamilton, HOPA President and chief executive officer. “This investment will help to ensure a reliable supply of steel necessary for residential and civil construction projects and for Ontario manufacturers.”

The contribution is part of a CAN$9.8 million HOPA-led project to enhance the transfer of steel products between various transportation modes at the port. The project includes the construction of a new, 20,000 m2 rail transload facility at Pier 15, designed specifically for the handling of steel products.

HOPA says that, by creating new interconnections between marine, rail and road, this project will increase the efficiency and the resiliency of the supply chain in the region for the construction and manufacturing sectors.

When completed, the facility will add more than 100,000 metric tonnes of new steel handling capacity at the Port of Hamilton and enable a shift in trade flows from truck to rail, reducing carbon emissions associated with long-distance truck transportation of steel products.