November 26, 2002: The crew and Captain Albert Leal of Norsul Line’s MV Norsul Vancouver were welcomed at an inaugural voyage ceremony held on November 21, 2002. The vessel, making its first trip on the monthly breakbulk service between South America, the US West Coast, and Fraser Surrey Docks, is a specialized forest products carrier with ten open hatch holds and two travelling gantry cranes with special rain protectors.

The vessel was discharging steel loaded in Brazil and the West Coast of South America and loading newsprint and pulp destined for Central and South America. “Norsul Lines has been offering monthly service through Fraser Surrey Docks since 1988,” said Don Roberts, Regional Director of Canada Maritime Agencies, Norsul’s general agent, “but this vessel’s specialized capabilities and expanded space capacity allow us to provide even better service to our BC customers.”

Over 22 million tonnes of cargo are shipped through Fraser River Port terminals and facilities annually, generating 10,700 direct jobs.