CN, DP World ink service level agreement

VANCOUVER and MONTREAL — CN and DP World, operators of the Centerm Terminal in Vancouver, have signed a comprehensive service level agreement designed to enhance the competitiveness of Canada’s Pacific Gateway and improve services for customers.

The agreement is designed to ensure best practices are followed to improve productivity with the aim of increasing market share.In recent months, CN has signed supply chain collaboration agreements with ports on both the west and east coasts of Canada, which officials say is part of the company’s drive to promote balanced accountability among all port stakeholders.

“The CN-DP World service level agreement will ensure that best practice technology is utilized where appropriate to meet the common goals of the parties,” the groups said in a statement. “The two parties hope these objectives are achieved through commercial means that avoid unnecessary regulation or government intervention. CN and DP World will work closely on all matters related to security, in coordination with the relevant government agencies, with the goal of branding Centerm Terminal in Vancouver as a secure point of entry to North America.”

“DP World is an important, strategic partner of CN and this innovative service level agreement will lead to increased collaboration and information-sharing in order to make one of the country’s busiest gateways even more efficient,” said Claude Mongeau, president and CEO of CN.

Matthew Hoag, general manager of DP World Vancouver, said: “We are pleased to be working even more closely with CN to help improve productivity. Sharing best practices is key to the overall improvement of intermodal transportation and more efficient supply chains for customers.”To achieve the goals and take advantage of solid growth opportunities in Asia/North America trade, the parties have agreed to establish working subcommittees with senior, fully engaged personnel to coordinate operational issues, communications between the parties and other stakeholders, as well as commercial and business matters.