Prince Rupert BC (Kaien Island Canada)

Prince Rupert is a deep-water port and town located on Kaien Island in British Columbia (BC Canada), with population around 13,000 and land area approx 53 km2 (21 mi2). Prince Rupert's current day economy is based on port services (container shipping and logistics), the fishing industry and tourism.

The cruise shipping operations are managed by Prince Rupert Cruise Port (PRCP).

Prince Rupert's sheltered harbour is the deepest natural ice-free harbor in North America, as well as the third deepest natural harbor in the world. It is North America's northwesternmost port linked to the railway network of the continent. The port is first inbound and last outbound call port for cargo ships traveling between western North America and eastern Asia. The capacity of Prince Rupert port is nearly the same as that of Port of Vancouver.

Much of Prince Rupert Harbour (port locode CAPRR) is formed by a shelter provided by the island of Digby, which is situated windward of the city and contains Prince Rupert Airport. The city lies on Kaien Island and the harbour includes also Morse Basin, Wainwright Basin, Porpoise Harbour, and Tuck Inlet, as well as part of Chatham Sound waters, taking in Ridley Island.

On August 29, 2017, Port Prince Rupert completed the works on Fairview Container Terminal's expansion.

• Following DP World’s port expansion project, the terminal now can accommodate even the world's largest container vessels (20,000+ TEU boxships). Fairview Terminal's capacity was increased from 850,000 to 1,35 million TEU-containers annually. The 2-year expansion project included building a 2nd berth, that is served by 3 new Malacca-max gantry cranes.
• On April 21, 2018, Hapag-Lloyd Line made the company's first-ever call here with the ship YM Masculinity. The seaport offers short transit times to other Canadian and US destinations, including 3-day to Calgary and 5-day to Montreal.
• The completed in 2017 "Phase 2A" increased the terminal's capacity by 0,5 million TEUs (to 1,35 million TEUs). Expansion project's "Phase 2B" (mid-2019 through 2022) will increase Fairview Terminal's annual capacity to 1,8 million TEUs. The project includes enlarging the container yard (from 32 to 41 hectares) and adding 2 new rubber-tired gantry cranes plus 8th dock gantry crane. The existing buildings will be relocated for more TEU storage capacity. On-dock rail capacity will be also increased with 2036 m (6680 ft) new working rail track (to a total 7522 m / 24680 ft) by 2022.
• Prince Rupert Port Authority-PRPA's container terminal master plan was officially announced on May 21, 2019. This port development project includes the construction/expansion of container terminals (total annual capacity 6-7 million TEU-containers), further expansion of Fairview Container Terminal (from 1,35 to 1,8 million TEUs, scheduled completion in 2022), building a second container terminal at South Kaien Island (with annual capacity 2,5 million TEUs). Both Fairview and South Kaien terminals are close to Ridley Island (serving mainly export logistics). By the end of 2020 will be completed the Fairview-Ridley Connector Corridor (5-km / 3-mi long road linking Fairview Terminal with Ridley Island Industrial Site) works on which started in 2019.
• In November 2018, Port Prince Rupert received CAD 21,9 million in Government funding for 3 separate infrastructure projects - Fairview-Ridley Connector ($15M), Ridley Island Road Rail Utility Corridor Expansion ($3,7M) and Zanardi Bridge and Mainline Expansion ($3,2M).

For FY2016 (fiscal year), the port contributed over CAD 1 billion to Northern British Columbia’s economy. The port's activities (terminal, rail, truck and logistics services) support over 3100 local jobs, with total earnings over CAD 260 million (average annual wage over CAD 80,000). In 2018, Port Prince Rupert reported record volumes with handled 1 million TEUs and 27 million cargo tons.

In 2017, the Port handled 25 cruise ships and ~17,000 passengers. In 2018 were received 30 ship calls and handled ~17,000 passengers. Among the largest cruise companies calling at Prince Rupert are NCL-Norwegian, also the luxury brands Oceania, Seabourn, RSSC-Regent Seven Seas. New comers to Prince Rupert are Royal Caribbean (2025) and Virgin Voyages (2026).

Following the 2+ year pause in cruise shipping due to the Coronavirus crisis, in 2022, the cruise port had booked a total of 43 ship calls, and expected ~61,000 tourists. The first liner (Ruby Princess) arrived on May 17th.

In November 2022, Global Ports Holding Plc (GPH) signed a 10-year concession (optional 10-year extension) to manage Prince Rupert Port's cruise services.

On December 12, 2022, was utilized for the first time Port's shore power facility at Fairview Container Terminal (managed by DP World Prince Rupert). The new infrastructure (at Fairview Terminal’s north and south berths) cost CAD7,6 million and was developed and installed via a partnership between the Port Authority, DP World (Dubai UAE) and BC Hydro (British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority). The system allows berthed vessels to shut down their main diesel engines/generators and use dockside power supply. The first shore-powered ship was COSCO's CSCL Summer (2014-built boxship/IMO 9645865) - on Dec 12th.

In 2024, the Port handled 43 cruise ship calls and 59,404 passengers. In 2025 were expected 65,846 cruisers, and in 2026 - the record 154,846 (135% increase over 2025). New companies visiting in 2026 were the luxury brands Virgin Voyages and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.

Prince Rupert BC cruise terminal

Prince Rupert BC tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

Land tour options in Prince Rupert include wildlife viewing (bears, whales), hiking/trailing, seakayaking, jet boating.

In 2024 were introduced 12 new shore excursions (to a total of 14) and 2 new experiences - the Museum of Northern BC (exhibits themed on the history and culture of the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast) and the Tsimshian Longhouse (featuring a drumming ceremony and performances by the Gwis’amiilgigohl Dancers in traditional regalia).

In collaboration with Indigenous communities and local stakeholders, Prince Rupert Cruise Port in 2024 launched the land tours "Kitsumkalum Glacial Heritage and Gastronomy Trail" (Great Bear Rainforest) and the “Great Bear Rainforest by Rail and Road”.

The most popular cruise shore excursion is the “Explore Prince Rupert by Vintage Trolley” - a guided tour of the town’s attractions on a unique vehicle also serving local community events.

Another popular land tour for cruisers is the bus tour travel to the North Pacific Cannery (1889-founded, at Skeena River's mouth). This is a National Historic Site that consists of 25 buildings, including the NPC Museum.