Maritime Economic Development: Davisville, Montreal

New Auto Processing Facility Opens at the Port of Davisville (RI)

Exterior view of NORAD’s newly opened auto processing facility at the Port of Davisville
Photo/Quonset Development Corporation

North Atlantic Distribution’s (NORAD) newest auto processing facility at the Port of Davisville officially opened March 4 with a ribbon-cutting by Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed, Congressmen David Cicilline and Jim Langevin, and various other dignitaries.

The facility adds 32,000 square feet to the vehicle processing capacity of what is already a leading U.S. auto handling port. In 2015, auto imports at Davisville set a record for the sixth year, a total of 227,021 compared to 178,215 in 2014. An additional 42,150 vehicles arrived by rail and truck, boosting the port’s 2015 vehicle count to 269,171. Auto imports are now six times the volume handled two decades ago.

The Port of Davisville is a component of the Quonset Business Park, which is owned and managed by Quonset Development Corporation (QDC), an agency of the state of Rhode Island.

Vehicles arriving at Davisville are processed, finished and distributed across the United States at the NORAD complex which now consists of five building and more than 230,000 square feet of space. Since beginning operations here in 1986, NORAD has invested more than $40 million dollars in the facility, where it now employs almost 400 full- and part-time workers.

Interior of the new NORAD’s auto processing facility at the Port of Davisville
Photo/Quonset Development Corporation

"The Port of Davisville is one of our state’s most important assets," said Governor Raimondo. "Davisville is showing the world that Rhode Island may be small, but we are a major player in the global economy. By leveraging our assets, we can attract more successful companies like NORAD to grow their businesses here, create jobs, and invest in Rhode Island."

Governor Raimondo last month included a $90 million proposal in her state budget this year for modernizing Pier 2 at Davisville.  Built in 1956, the pier had a design life of 50 years. The investment would extend the facility’s useful live by 50 years. According to the QDC, it would also preserve hundreds of jobs in the maritime sector, create 975 construction jobs, and keep Rhode Island competitive with other ports in the region.
 
"The Port of Davisville has been our home for more than 30 years," said Michael Miranda, president and CEO of NORAD.  "We are investing here and creating more jobs here because state and federal leaders have done an incredible job in positioning this port for more growth. We recognize their commitment to this unique asset, and we are committed to being here at Quonset and the port for many years to come."

"NORAD has been a terrific partner with us here for more than 30 years and this new facility is another great example of their growth," said Steven J. King, PE, managing director of the QDC. "The Port of Davisville is one of Rhode Island’s greatest assets, and we will do everything we can to ensure its ongoing success."

Montreal Port Authority Welcomes the Development of Industrial Port Areas in Québec

The Montreal Port Authority (MPA) fully supports the Québec provincial government’s planned investment of C$300 million investment in the development of industrial port areas.

"We believe in the merits of the concept of industrial port areas, and we are very pleased with these major investments. Montreal is a natural, ideally suited site to implement such a concept," said Port Authority CE) Sylvie Vachon.  "Like the Port of Montreal, ports are real engines for attracting business and there will definitely be no shortage of interest in developing business in this stimulating context."

The MPA plans to fully participate in this project with partner organizations such as CargoM, the municipalities and the Government of Québec.

The implementation of industrial port areas throughout Quebec is part of the Quebec government's Maritime Strategy 2015-2020 Action Plan.

"The project to develop industrial and port areas is a perfect fit with our business strategy, called Port+, which aims to pool efforts toward common issues and opportunities, and to provide value-added services close to port facilities," added Ms. Vachon. "Our project to develop a container terminal at Contrecoeur is also bound to contribute positively to the government's commitment to maximize the attraction that a port holds for business."

The MPA also supports the Government of Quebec's commitment to invest in port and intermodal infrastructures through a $200 million budget provided for by the Ministry of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transport Electrification.