Search begins for for Roberts Bank 2 construction team

Key Takeaways:

• The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has launched a request for qualifications to select a construction team for the landmass and wharf portion of the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project.
• The terminal is expected to generate over 18,000 construction jobs, support 17,000 long-term jobs annually, and contribute $3 billion to Canada’s GDP each year.
• The project includes habitat enhancement and fish migration infrastructure, with mutual benefits agreements signed with 27 First Nations and ongoing commitments to Indigenous procurement and employment.

The Whole Story:

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has launched the procurement process to find a construction team for the landmass and wharf component of the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project, a major container terminal expansion in the Port of Vancouver.

The port authority issued a request for qualifications Thursday as the first step in a competitive selection process that will see three teams shortlisted this fall. The chosen contractor will be responsible for delivering key infrastructure, including a 100-hectare marine landmass, a 1,300-metre wharf structure and berth pocket, a widened 35-hectare causeway, and an expanded tug basin.

“We’re excited to issue the request for qualifications today and move this vital project forward,” said Victor Pang, the port authority’s chief financial officer. “To meet Canada’s needs in today’s quickly evolving trade landscape, we have accelerated our efforts to deliver Roberts Bank Terminal 2—a project that will strengthen Canada’s economic security and deliver trade resilience.”

The new terminal is projected to unlock over $100 billion in trade capacity and contribute $3 billion to Canada’s GDP annually. Once operational, it is expected to support 17,000 long-term jobs and generate more than 18,000 construction jobs.

The port authority has selected a progressive design-build procurement model with a target price approach. An independent fairness monitor has been appointed to oversee the process.

To align with the port’s environmental strategy, the construction contract also includes civil works for habitat enhancement, the South Arm Jetty Tidal Marsh Project, and a marine terminal fish passage to support juvenile salmon migration. These initiatives are priorities for First Nations communities and intended to protect regional ecosystems.

Pang said the terminal “will be a catalyst for economic transformation nationally—from supporting Prairie grain exports and B.C.’s forestry sector, to communities who depend on reliable and affordable access to essential goods on store shelves.”

The port authority has signed mutual benefits agreements with 27 First Nations, who have provided consent for the project to proceed. Future collaboration will include Indigenous procurement and employment opportunities, the agency said.

Following federal and provincial approvals in 2023, the port authority submitted a Fisheries Act Authorization application in 2024 and is aiming to receive a decision on the permit by October 2026. Construction is expected to begin in 2028, with terminal operations projected to start by the mid-2030s.

A community legacy fund worth $6 million will launch this summer to benefit Delta residents.

Interested construction teams must confirm their interest by Sept. 18, 2025, and submit their qualifications by Sept. 25. A project information session will be held in Vancouver on July 22.