Port of Saint John
Encyclopedia
The Port of Saint John is a port complex that occupies 45 hectares (111.2 acre) of land along 3900 m (12,795.3 ft) of waterfront. The port is located at the mouth of the Saint John River in Saint John, New Brunswick
, with facilities on both sides of the river. The Port of Saint John is noted for its extreme tidal range and river currents. Because of the semi-diurnal tides and the river influence, slack water
occurs at approximately half tide and not at high or low water as at most other ports.
on his voyage of discovery to the New World
in 1604, who described the Saint John River as “one of the largest and deepest we had yet seen” and who was advised by his Mi’kmaq guides that the river provided a route to the Saint Lawrence River
valley with only a short portage. Because of its strategic location, it became the site of a French stronghold known as Fort La Tour
. Though the fort was sacked in 1645, the river remained an important trade route for French, English and First Nations traders throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.
The port did not begin to develop in earnest until the influx of United Empire Loyalists in 1783. It developed rapidly as a result of timber trade and shipbuilding. Saint John became the province's leading industrial centre during the 19th century with much of the shipbuilding industry being concentrated on Courtney Bay outside the main harbour area. One of the best known ships built in Saint John was the Marco Polo
(1851) which became renowned for its speed.
The Irish potato famine of 1845–1849 saw a large immigrant influx, and to handle the new arrivals, the government constructed a quarantine station and hospital on Partridge Island
at the mouth of the harbour. The immigration station continued to operate for many decades. In 1859, Partridge Island also became known as the site of the first successful demonstration of an automated steam-powered foghorn, invented by the Scotsman Robert Foulis who had settled in the city. The foghorn is "ranked by historians as one of the most outstanding in the development of navigation aids."
For many years, the Port prospered as the winter port for Montreal
. In 1889 the Canadian Pacific Railway
opened a line across the state of Maine
from Montreal to Saint John and transferred the majority of its trans-Atlantic passenger and cargo shipping to the port during the winter months.
During the First World War, the Port of Saint John became a trans-shipment point for the British Empire
's war effort. It had less importance during World War II as the navy focus had been consolidated in Halifax.
The port suffered a decline following the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway and the introduction of icebreaker
services in the Seaway in the 1960s. In 1994 CPR left Saint John when it sold the line to shortline
operator New Brunswick Southern Railway
. The Canadian National Railway
still services Saint John with a secondary mainline from Moncton.
, a federal agency. Major products shipped through the port include timber products and potash from Penobsquis, New Brunswick
.
Private port facilities include Irving Oil
's Canaport bulk oil tanker unloading station near Red Head, located 4 kilometres southeast of Saint John Harbour and the nearby Canaport Liquified Natural Gas Terminal. The Irving interests also have a pulp and paper plant on the harbour.
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
, with facilities on both sides of the river. The Port of Saint John is noted for its extreme tidal range and river currents. Because of the semi-diurnal tides and the river influence, slack water
Slack water
Slack water, which used to be known as 'The stand of the tide', is a short period in a body of tidal water either side of high water or low water essentially when the water is completely unstressed, and therefore with no rise or fall of the tide and no movement either way in the tidal stream, and...
occurs at approximately half tide and not at high or low water as at most other ports.
History
The location was first visited by Samuel de ChamplainSamuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain , "The Father of New France", was a French navigator, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier, explorer, geographer, ethnologist, diplomat, and chronicler. He founded New France and Quebec City on July 3, 1608....
on his voyage of discovery to the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
in 1604, who described the Saint John River as “one of the largest and deepest we had yet seen” and who was advised by his Mi’kmaq guides that the river provided a route to the Saint Lawrence River
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
valley with only a short portage. Because of its strategic location, it became the site of a French stronghold known as Fort La Tour
Charles de Saint-Étienne de la Tour
Charles de Saint-Étienne de la Tour, the French King's appointed Governor of Acadia from 1631–1642 and again from 1653–1657, was born in France in 1593 and died at Cap de Sable in 1666...
. Though the fort was sacked in 1645, the river remained an important trade route for French, English and First Nations traders throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.
The port did not begin to develop in earnest until the influx of United Empire Loyalists in 1783. It developed rapidly as a result of timber trade and shipbuilding. Saint John became the province's leading industrial centre during the 19th century with much of the shipbuilding industry being concentrated on Courtney Bay outside the main harbour area. One of the best known ships built in Saint John was the Marco Polo
Marco Polo (ship)
Marco Polo was a 3-masted wooden clipper ship, launched in 1851 at Saint John, New Brunswick. It was named after Venetian explorer Marco Polo.-Construction and design:She measured 184 feet in length, with a beam of 36 feet, and draught of 29 feet...
(1851) which became renowned for its speed.
The Irish potato famine of 1845–1849 saw a large immigrant influx, and to handle the new arrivals, the government constructed a quarantine station and hospital on Partridge Island
Partridge Island, New Brunswick
Partridge Island is a Canadian island located in the Bay of Fundy off the coast of New Brunswick on the west side of the mouth of the Saint John River and Saint John Harbour.The island is designated as both a national and provincial historic site...
at the mouth of the harbour. The immigration station continued to operate for many decades. In 1859, Partridge Island also became known as the site of the first successful demonstration of an automated steam-powered foghorn, invented by the Scotsman Robert Foulis who had settled in the city. The foghorn is "ranked by historians as one of the most outstanding in the development of navigation aids."
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. In 1889 the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
opened a line across the state of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
from Montreal to Saint John and transferred the majority of its trans-Atlantic passenger and cargo shipping to the port during the winter months.
During the First World War, the Port of Saint John became a trans-shipment point for the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
's war effort. It had less importance during World War II as the navy focus had been consolidated in Halifax.
The port suffered a decline following the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway and the introduction of icebreaker
Icebreaker
An icebreaker is a special-purpose ship or boat designed to move and navigate through ice-covered waters. Although the term usually refers to ice-breaking ships, it may also refer to smaller vessels .For a ship to be considered an icebreaker, it requires three traits most...
services in the Seaway in the 1960s. In 1994 CPR left Saint John when it sold the line to shortline
ShortLine
Short Line is a brand name for three different Coach USA companies, Hudson Transit Lines, Hudson Transit Corporation, and Chenango Valley Bus Lines that provide local, commuter and intercity bus service in lower New York State, primarily along the Route 17 and Southern Tier corridor.-Service...
operator New Brunswick Southern Railway
New Brunswick Southern Railway
The New Brunswick Southern Railway and Eastern Maine Railway form a 189-mile railway system operating a former Canadian Pacific Railway mainline between Saint John, New Brunswick and Brownville Junction, Maine....
. The Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
still services Saint John with a secondary mainline from Moncton.
Port facilities
There are several marine facilities situated on either side of the harbour including a ferry terminal (Bay Ferries), the Rodney Container Terminal, and Navy Island Forest Products Terminal on the west side, and the Long Wharf Terminal, Marco Polo Cruise Terminal, Lower Cove Terminal and Barrack Point Potash Terminal on the east side. The port is administered by the Saint John Port AuthorityPort authority
In Canada and the United States a port authority is a governmental or quasi-governmental public authority for a special-purpose district usually formed by a legislative body to operate ports and other transportation infrastructure.Port authorities are usually governed by boards or...
, a federal agency. Major products shipped through the port include timber products and potash from Penobsquis, New Brunswick
Penobsquis, New Brunswick
Penobsquis is a Canadian village in New Brunswick.It is located east of Sussex in the Kennebecasis River valley. The area has many dairy farms....
.
Private port facilities include Irving Oil
Irving Oil
Irving Oil is a gasoline, oil, and natural gas producing and exporting company. It is also one of the few energy companies in Canada to publicly support the Kyoto Accord. Irving Oil operates one large oil refinery...
's Canaport bulk oil tanker unloading station near Red Head, located 4 kilometres southeast of Saint John Harbour and the nearby Canaport Liquified Natural Gas Terminal. The Irving interests also have a pulp and paper plant on the harbour.