Port of Halifax opens Africville Seasides container examination facility

A new marine container examination facility named in honour of a historic Africville hockey team has officially opened at the Port of Halifax.

The Africville Seasides Marine Container Examination Facility (MCEF) is designed to enhance cargo security, improve operational efficiency and reduce environmental impact at one of Canada’s busiest ports.

Named after the Africville Seasides of the Coloured Hockey League of the Maritimes, the facility’s name was selected through a community engagement process led by the Africville Heritage Trust with local residents and descendants in March 2024.

Replacing a former facility in Burnside Industrial Park, the new MCEF eases port congestion, enhances safety and security for the Canada Border Services Agency and reduces container truck traffic across the MacKay Bridge, lowering both fuel consumption and emissions.

“The new Africville Seasides Marine Container Examination Facility will support the growth of the port and increase the security of the supply chain, helping Canadian businesses to compete and grow in international markets,” said Fulvio Fracassi, president and CEO of the Halifax Port Authority.

The project received partial funding from the Government of Canada’s National Trade Corridors Fund and was recognized in 2023 with an Envision-Verified Award for sustainable infrastructure.