Strategic Advantages
Closest North American port to Shanghai
Shortest Link between Shanghai and Chicago
Lowest Rail Grades in Rockies
Deepest on West Coast

The Prince Rupert Advantage

• Shortest Land-Sea Route
• Efficient Rail Access
• Deepest
• Safest
• Closest to open waters.
• Ice-Free Year Round

Shortest Land-Sea Route
Prince Rupert links Asia to North America at the strategic entry point of the shortest existing land/sea route. At 54° North, the Port of Prince Rupert is North America's closest port to key Asian markets.

Situated 436 miles/36 hours sailing time closer to Shanghai than Vancouver and over 1,000 miles/68 hours closer than Los Angeles, the Port's strategic location puts shippers closer to their markets, meanings that ocean carriers can turn around faster and benefit from faster transit times between Asian and North American markets. This translates into an express route with efficient connections to the three NAFTA countries, saving you time and money.

Fast and Efficient Rail Access
CN Rail operates the largest rail network in Canada and the only transcontinental network covering the entire North American continent. This international rail line follows the uncongested Northwest Transportation Corridor through the lowest rail grade in the Canadian Rockies and on to rest of North America via Chicago. With 17,821 route-miles, it is the only railway on the continent to serve ports on the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Gulf Coast.

Best Rail Grades Ensure Smooth Delivery
Shippers can immediately access up to 80% of CN's high capacity state-of-the-art Northern Line and benefit from the seamless integration of the full CN Rail network. This network runs through the lowest-grade mountain passes in the Rocky Mountains, meaning less winter weather impact than other railways. The more efficient routing also means faster operational times and lower costs, due to flatter grades.

Deepest, Safest, and Ice-Free
Prince Rupert has the deepest inner harbour entrance of its competitors. Ranging between 38 and 44 meters, Prince Rupert is set to handle the largest of vessels. Wharf side depth meets and exceeds the requirements for 250,000 dwt and 12,500 TEU vessels.

Assessed by a number of marine risk factors, including wind, depth, and channel width, make Prince Rupert one of the safest ports on the West Coast. Less time in Canadian pilotage waters means lower costs to shippers.

The same proximity to open ocean ensures that Prince Rupert is ice-free year round. With average winter temperatures hovering around zero degrees Celsius (32 Fahrenheit), Prince Rupert's winter temperatures compare favourably with those of Vancouver.