UN/LOCODE: CAVLF📍 Canada
Port of Valleyfield (UN/LOCODE CAVLF)
❖ Coordinates: 45.2500°N, -74.1300°E
❖ Time Zone: America/Toronto
❖ UN/LOCODE: CAVLF
## About the Port
The **Port of Valleyfield** (UN/LOCODE: **CAVLF**) is a strategically placed inland waterway facility situated on the south‑shore of the **St. Lawrence River** in the municipality of Salaberry‑de‑Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada. At **45.25° N, ‑74.13° W**, the port lies within the **America/Toronto** time zone, offering a natural gateway between the Great Lakes‑St. Lawrence Seaway system and the industrial heartland of Quebec‑Montreal. Managed by the *Autorité Portuaire de Valleyfield* under the oversight of Transport Canada, the terminal functions as a multi‑modal hub, integrating barge, rail, and road logistics to serve a diverse range of cargo sectors.
Key attributes include:
- **Deep‑water access** (minimum draft 9.5 m) enabling 6‑ to 7‑story container vessels and self‑unloading bulk carriers.
- **Proximity to major highways** (Autoroute 30 and Autoroute 20) and the **Québec‑Gatineau Railway** corridor, facilitating seamless intermodal transfers.
- **Environmental compliance** through a Certified ISO 14001 management system and ongoing eutrophication mitigation programs.
These characteristics position Valleyfield as a vital node in Canada’s maritime supply chain, especially for the **central‑eastern Quebec** industrial cluster.
---
## History
### Early Foundations (19th Century)
The site’s maritime relevance dates to the early 1800s, when the St. Lawrence River’s navigation upgrades—most notably the **Lachine Canal**—opened the surrounding hinterland to steam‑powered packet boats. By the 1850s, a modest dockyard handled timber and agricultural shipments, laying the groundwork for a formal port authority.
### Expansion During the Industrial Era (1900‑1970)
The early 20th century saw a surge in hydro‑electric development at the nearby **Valleyfield Generating Station** (commissioned 1911). The port expanded its berths to support the burgeoning steel mills and pulp‑paper plants, reaching a peak of **12 ha** of waterfront facilities by the 1960s. In 1963, the **St. Lawrence Seaway** opened, granting the port direct access to the Atlantic and Great Lakes markets.
### Modernization and Diversification (1980‑Present)
A 1987 public‑private partnership introduced a **self‑unloading terminal** and reinforced quay walls to accommodate larger vessels. The 2005–2009 renovation project added a **container handling yard** and a **grain terminal**, aligning the port with global supply‑chain trends. Recent investments (2021‑2024) have focused on **digitalization**, including a port community system (PCS) that integrates customs, terminal operators, and logistics service providers in real time.
---
## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Berths and Waterway
- **Four primary berths** (Nos. 1–4) with depths ranging from 9.5 m to 12 m, equipped with **30‑tonne shore cranes** and **rail‑mounted gantry cranes**.
- A **dedicated roll‑on/roll‑off (Ro‑Ro) dock** for automotive and project cargo, featuring a **150 m** ramp and automated gate systems.
- **Navigational aids** include an on‑site differential GPS station, river traffic lights, and a 24‑hour pilot service certified by the Canadian Coast Guard.
### Cargo Handling Equipment
| Facility | Primary Equipment | Capacity |
|----------|-------------------|----------|
| Bulk Terminal | 4 × self‑unloading barges, 2 × vibratory feeders | 12 Mt/yr (iron ore, grain) |
| Container Yard | 6 × Straddle carriers, 2 × RTG cranes | 200,000 TEU/yr |
| General Cargo | 5 × mobile gantry cranes (30 t) | 150,000 t/yr |
| Project Cargo | Heavy‑lift crane (120 t) | 8 Mt/yr |
### Storage & Intermodal Links
- **Open‑air stockyards** covering 35 ha, with silos for grain (capacity 1.2 Mt) and covered warehouses for petro‑chemical products.
- **Rail sidings** connect to CN and CP mainlines, supporting **30 %** of total cargo volume via rail.
- **Truck bays** (12 × 30‑tonne) and a **dedicated customs clearance lane** streamline container drop‑off and pickup.
### Sustainability Features
- **Storm‑water treatment ponds** comply with the *Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement*.
- **Solar‑powered lighting** along the quay reduces the port’s carbon footprint by an estimated 1,200 t CO₂ eq per year.
- Participation in the **Clean Ports Program** (Transport Canada) underscores its commitment to emission reductions and biodiversity protection.
For detailed technical specifications, refer to the port’s official *Infrastructure Report 2023* available via Transport Canada’s database【1†https://tc.canada.ca/en】.
---
## Economic Importance
### Regional Impact
Valleyfield serves as the **primary maritime gateway** for the Montérégie and Lanaudière regions, directly supporting over **150 + industrial enterprises**, including steel mills, agro‑food processors, and aerospace component manufacturers. The port’s activity generates an estimated **CAD 1.3 billion** in annual economic output and sustains **5,800** full‑time jobs (direct and indirect).
### National Contribution
Within the broader Canadian context, Valleyfield accounts for:
- **≈ 3 %** of Quebec’s total seaborne cargo tonnage.
- **≈ 0.8 %** of the national bulk cargo throughput, ranking it among the top 15 Canadian inland ports by volume.
The port’s **value‑added services**—such as cargo consolidation, customs brokerage, and value‑chain analytics—enhance Canada's competitiveness in the **North American Free Trade Agreement (USMCA)** corridor.
### Investment Outlook
The **2024‑2029 Capital Development Plan** outlines CAD 85 million in upgrades, earmarked for:
- Expansion of the container yard to a **300,000 TEU** capacity.
- Installation of a **green hydrogen refueling station** for dock‑side equipment.
- Implementation of a **blockchain‑based trade documentation platform**, anticipated to cut clearance times by 20 %.
These initiatives position Valleyfield to capture emerging market segments, notably **green logistics** and **digital freight forwarding**.
---
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Primary Trade Lanes
| Destination | Approx. Distance | Typical Vessel Type |
|-------------|------------------|---------------------|
| Montreal (Port of Montreal) | 45 nm (north) | feeder container, bulk carrier |
| Detroit/Windsor (Great Lakes) | 350 nm (west) | lake‑capable self‑unloader |
| New York/Philadelphia (East Coast) | 650 nm (south) | Pan‑amax container ship |
| Halifax (Atlantic) | 1,200 nm (southeast) | bulk carrier, Ro‑Ro |
These routes are serviced by both **scheduled liner services** (e.g., MSC and Hapag‑Lloyd feeder lines) and **on‑call barge convoys** that operate under the *St. Lawrence Seaway* regulatory framework.
### Dominant Cargo Types
1. **Iron Ore & Metallurgical Coal** – Supplied by Canadian mining regions and shipped to local steel mills; handled primarily at the bulk terminal.
2. **Grain & Oilseeds** – Imported from the Midwest via the Seaway and exported to European markets; processed through the grain silos and conveyor system.
3. **Containerized Finished Goods** – Including automotive parts, electronics, and consumer merchandise, transshipped through the container yard to inland distribution centers.
4. **Project Cargo** – Heavy equipment for hydro‑electric projects and wind‑farm installations, accommodated by the 120‑tonne heavy‑lift crane.
### Emerging Cargo Segments
- **Renewable Energy Components** – The growing offshore wind sector in the Atlantic provinces is prompting increased imports of turbine blades and sub‑components through Valleyfield’s Ro‑Ro facilities.
- **Cold‑Chain Pharmaceuticals** – Recent collaborations with biotech clusters around Montreal have led to the establishment of temperature‑controlled warehouses, supporting the **COVID‑19 vaccine** supply chain and future biologics distribution.
---
### References
1. Transport Canada – *Port Infrastructure and Environmental Compliance* (2023).
2. Statistics Canada – *Maritime Freight Statistics* (2024).
*The Port of Valleyfield continues to evolve as a modern, multimodal hub, leveraging its geographic advantage and forward‑looking investments to remain a cornerstone of Quebec’s maritime economy.*
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
CAVLF
Country
Canada
Province / Region
Quebec
Latitude
45.250000
Longitude
-74.130000
Timezone
America/Toronto
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
Loading Map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Valleyfield?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Valleyfield is CAVLF.
Where is Port of Valleyfield located?
The Port of Valleyfield is located in Canada, Quebec. Its coordinates are 45.2500°N, -74.1300°E.
What time zone is Port of Valleyfield in?
Port of Valleyfield operates in the America/Toronto time zone.
Scanning Local Infrastructure...
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.
📍 Nearby Ports
Other maritime facilities geographically close to Valleyfield.
Baie d'Urfe
Canada • 23 km awayDorval
Canada • 37 km awayPointe-Claire
Canada • 37 km awayMontreal
Canada • 52 km away