THE Ridley Island Export Logistics Project has received the final determination of the Federal environmental effects evaluation review, according to London's Port Technology.

The project, located at the southern end of Ridley Island, is an integral part of the Port of Prince Rupert's development plan, which aims to fully integrate intermodal activities between terminal, logistics and rail.

The announcement marks a critical step in the project's development, as it is a prerequisite for the federal authorities to consider the required authorisations for the project to proceed.

According to the federal authorities' determination, the Ridley Island Export Logistics Project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects in accordance with the requirements of Section 82 of the Impact Assessment Act (IAA).

Said Prince Rupert Port Authority CEO Shaun Stevenson: "This project will create an innovative and competitive transloading facility for commodities such as plastic pellets, cereal grains, specialty agriculture crops, lumber, and pulp to be loaded directly from rail into containers for export, creating 400,000 TEU of export capacity in the first phase."

The planned export logistics complex will be an integrated ecosystem of large-scale bulk and breakbulk transload facilities, intermodal rail yard, and a container storage yard.

The development is set to increase efficiencies in export supply chains, maximising value to Canadian exporters while supporting the substantial growth of the intermodal business at Prince Rupert.

Early works for the project are planned to begin in early March, with tree clearing and site preparation activities. The final investment decision on the project with commercial partners is expected later this year.

In January, DP World selected infrastructure consulting firm AECOM to conduct a feasibility and design study for the development of the second container terminal at Prince Rupert.