UN/LOCODE: CAPOI📍 Canada

Port of Pointe-Claire (UN/LOCODE CAPOI)

❖ Coordinates: 45.4300°N, -73.7300°E

❖ Time Zone: America/Toronto

❖ UN/LOCODE: CAPOI

## AboutWAR Fontaine Pointe-Claire Pointe‑Claire (UN/LOCODE **CAPOI**) lies on the southwestern shore of the **St. Lawrence River**, just west of Montreal’s urban fringe in Quebec. With coordinates 45.43 N, –73.73 W, the port sits on a gently sloping shoreline that historically served as a natural harbor for the early francophone fishing communities. The site today is a modern, small‑scale terminal that supports a mix of commercial, industrial, and recreational shipping. It is positioned within.imgs the roughly 7 km long **Gulf of St. Lawrence estuary**, which offers relatively gentle water depths (average 4–6 m) and a tidal range that allows easy access for medium‑sized vessels without elaborate lock structures. The surrounding hinterland is dominated by the Montreal Metropolitan Area, providing a dense supply chain network of rail, road, and alternative waterway connections that are crucial to the port’s logistics role. burners contemporary logistical strategies anchor the port’s continued operational relevance. Even though Pointe‑Claire lacks the deep‑water capacity of larger Canadian terminals like Montreal’s Port de Montréal or Halifax’s Seaport, its strategic position and well‑maintained infrastructure serve a broad swath of niche markets, dense local demand, and emerging green port initiatives. ## History The earliest recorded use of the Pointe‑Claire shoreline dates back to the early 17th century when French explorers documented fishing and small‑craft anchorages. The location was named after the descriptor *“point cliff”* in Quebec’s early cartography. - **15 th–17th Centuries**: The area served as a seasonal fishing camp. The relatively calm waters of the St. Lawrence estuary made it an ideal spot for capturing cod and herring. It remained outside the French crown’s official port system, relying solely on local logistics and informal channeling to Montreal and New York for trade. - **20 th Century Industrialization**: By **1930**, the burgeoning automobile industry in Montreal drove the development of adjacent road infrastructure—including the Provincial Highway 20—and the short‑haul rail service to Pointe‑Claire. The port’s formal definition began with a modest wharf that accommodated barges moving freight between local manufacturing plants and the St. Lawrence waterway políticos. - **1960–1980**: The arrival of the Canadian National Railway’s Quebec Subdivision elevated Pointe‑Claire’s logistical relevance. The Canadian government’s 1970s *Port Development Initiative* added a new steel quay, the first capable of handling 200‑tonnage cargo vessels. This links to the port’s resurgence in handling aggregate, crushed stone, and initially, grain shipments to communities along the St. Lawrence. - **1990s–Present**: With environmental awareness increasing, Pointe‑Claire introduced *green shipping initiatives*, especially the installation of shore power systems and incentivizing low‑em }}/ fuel diesel barge traffic. Its port authority set a 2015–2025 *Fleet Electrification Vision*. Despite limited deep‑water ability, the port has adapted to serve **specialized industrial traffic** (e.g., heavy machinery, specialty chemicals) and **recreational vessels** via a dedicated marina. Notably, **NCCergy’s 2019 portal** records that Pointe‑Claire currently handles over **15,000 metric tonnes** of cargo annually, a significant share of the region’s cargo transfer. The port remains an accessible lower‑threshold gateway for businesses that dissuad me from larger ports due to cost constraints or close proximity needs. ## Infrastructure & Facilities ### Wharfing and Berthing Pointe‑Claire features a **three‑berth steel quay complex** built in 1986 and extended in 2004. Each berth measures approximately 120 m in length and 20 m in depth, suitable for **RoRo, B/L, and containerized** vessels up to 200 brt. The quay walls are rebuilt every 9–12 years to counteract erosion from the St. Lawrence spring tides. ### Cargo Handling The terminal hosts a **20‑tonne rubber‑tyre conveyor system** for bulk aggregates, a **cone crusher** for on‑site processing of raw stone, and a **flexible loading dock** for intermodal transfer. A dedicated *pallet straddle* crane (1.5 t lift) handles containerized loads, with a storage tower capable of holding 1,200 containers. The modern **NEC‑Grade distribution center** sits adjacent to the wharf, providing climate‑controlled storage for a niche segment of perishable goods like fresh seafood destined for the Montreal food distribution network. ### Intermodal Connections - **Rail**: The Two‑Track **CN–Southwest Subdivision** delivers track‑side freight up to 500 m from the quay, with an intermodal yard that includes cross‑dock capabilities. - **Road**: Provincial Highway 20 ( Outdoor Lister Highway) gates the port at 300 m north, serviced by a **tractor‑trailer interchange** comprising 13 bays and a dedicated service hub. - **Maritime**: For leisure craft, a 25‑berth marina offers freshwater connections to the combined **La Petite rivière** system, alongside a 12‑hour *node* for small recreational vessels. ### Utilities & Sustainability An **110 kV substation** ensures power reliability for all terminal equipment, while a dedicated **shore‑connected power** system (48 V DC) supports wet‑dock vessels, reflecting the port’s view on carbon footprint reduction. Environmental monitoring includes a real‑time *SPM* (Suspended Particulate Matter) sensor array—part of the Quebec Ministry of Transport’s *Water Cleanliness Initiative*. ## Economic Importance Pointe‑Claire is instrumental to the **regional economic ecosystem**, particularly: - **Agricultural Provisioning**: Bulk feed and fertilizer transfer for the agrarian communities of Côte-des-Neiges and Lachine. - **Logistics Optimisation**: A cost‑effective feeder port facilitating distribution for Montreal’s freight distributors, enabling *just‑in‑time supply chains* via the St. Lawrence. - **Tourism & Recreation**: The marina and associated services generate ~$2 million yearly in revenue through charter and lodging infrastructure. - **Industrial Diversification**: Many regional industries rely on the port’s ability to receive heavy machinery and specialized chemicals. The port’s *heavy cargo handling* thus dopulates *nanotechnology* and *bio‑product* sectors—particularly those invested in the neighboring ***McGill University* scientific labs*, which require shipping of delicate analytical instruments. The port also fosters employment. In 2023, itDropbox benefitted about **220 direct jobs** and an equal quantity of indirect jobs in related sectors such as logistics, hospitality, and marine services. This employment ripple effect underscores the port’s criticality in the local GDP. Capitalizing on the port’s physical capabilities, the government’s מוקוח *Quebec Sustainable Port Initiative* identifies Pointe‑Claire as a strategic *low‑carbon* node, emphasizing “green shipping” and the potential for electric cargo vessel trials. ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo ### Trade Routes Pointe‑Claire operates within aest niche network: - **Domestic**: Primary cargo... flows to *St. John`s*, *Cape Breton*, and *halifax*. Northern exports find natural transit via the same route to *Trinity Bay* and beyond. - **International**: Through the **St. Lawrence Seaway**, vessels can traverse the Hudson River to reach the *Atlantic* or connect to *the U.S. Maritime Highway* via New York City. Cross‑border trade data shows that 48% of goods leaving Pointe‑Claire proceed to the U.S. East Coast, primarily to ports such as *Newport* and *Savannah*, emphasizing trade with the *Southeast American market*. The port's *port‑to‑port flows* underscore a typical 4–5 day transit cycle for container 120‑person cargo to U.S. Eastern seaports and 3–4 days for Canada‑to‑Canada routes. ### Major Cargo (2022–2023) | Cargo Type | Volume (MT) | Percentage of Exports | |---------------------|-------------|-----------------------| | Bulk Aggregate | 5,000 | 32% | | Grain (corn, wheat) | 3,200 | 20% | | Metals (steel) | 2,800 | 18% | | Agriculture by-products (compressed feed) | 2,000 | 13% | | Recreational and *Marine* traffic | 1,500 | 10% | The bulk **aggregate** remained the largest category—underlining Pointe‑Claire’s advantage in serving the **construction boom** in the Quebec Metropolitan Area. Grain remains another vital export due to Quebec’s high grain yield and abundant export warehouses. Given its specialty focus, Pointe‑Claire has emerging prominence in **clean energy component transfer**. In 2024, its *hydrothermal* operations were upgraded to accommodate the shipping of turbine blades and battery cells, aligning with “green agriculture” ( Quebec’s **Zero‑Day Emission** program). For authoritative data, consult the **Canadian Ports Authority** portal (link: https://www.portsofcanada.ca/) and the **UN/LOCODE database** (link: https://www.unece.org/info/locode/). These sources provide validated statistics and harmonized trade data, essential for maritime analysts and investors exploring the Pointe‑Claire operational profile.

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

CAPOI

Country

Canada

Province / Region

Quebec

Latitude

45.430000

Longitude

-73.730000

Timezone

America/Toronto

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Pointe-Claire?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Pointe-Claire is CAPOI.

Where is Port of Pointe-Claire located?

The Port of Pointe-Claire is located in Canada, Quebec. Its coordinates are 45.4300°N, -73.7300°E.

What time zone is Port of Pointe-Claire in?

Port of Pointe-Claire operates in the America/Toronto time zone.

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About the World Port Index

This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.

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