Rail Infrastructure
Ironstone intends to utilize existing Canadian rail infrastructure. Approximately 650 miles of CN heavy rail connects Taylor, BC to the Port of Prince Rupert and the Ridley Bulk Facility.
Port of Prince Rupert
Access to Asian markets for Ironstone’s commercial products would be through the Port of Prince Rupert’s Ridley Terminal, located in western British Columbia. Iron and vanadium products would be transported to Prince Rupert via CN’s existing heavy-gauge rail network.
The Port of Prince Rupert provides Ironstone with a strategic advantage over other Canadian and North American mining companies in that it provides Ironstone with the shortest route to China from North America. Its transit time of 10 days 15 hours (at 20 knots) is almost a full two weeks shorter than the time required to move iron ore from Quebec to the Port of Tianjin, and less than 3 days longer than transit from Australia.
Ridley Terminal
Ridley Terminals, Inc. is a Federal Crown Corporation that owns and operates the most advanced terminal of its kind, making it a world leader in the efficient and reliable movement of coal and other bulk commodities from unit trains onto ships. RTI is ISO 9001-2000 compliant.
RTI’s highly trained and motivated staff is committed to minimizing the cost of transporting these commodities. Computer based technology is used to load ships at rates to 9,000 tonnes per hour (tph), and unloads railcars at 6,000 tph.
The terminal has an annual shipping capacity of 12 million tonnes, which can be expanded to 24 million tonnes. Although part of the throughput is committed, the terminal is available to all users and operates 24 hours a day.
The terminal was built to provide an export point for vast reserves of metallurgical and thermal coal in northeastern British Columbia. It is also capable of handling other bulk commodities. The first ship was loaded in January of 1984.
Terminal Specifications
Maximum draught at the berth: 22 metres
Annual capacity: 12 million tonnes, expandable to 24 million tonnes
On site storage capacity: 1.2 million tonnes
Train unloading rate: up to 6,000 tonnes per hour
Vessel loading rate: up to 9,000 tonnes per hour
Capable of handling vessel up to 250,000 DWT
Dock Specifications
Dolphin type berth
Berthing dolphins of 150 metres, and mooring dolphins of 370 metres
Maximum vessel size:
325 metres LOA
50 metres beam
20 metres draft
250,000 DWT
*** with its berth-side depth of 22 meters, it could readily handle VLCC vessels of 350,000 DWT.
Shiploader Specifications
Two quadrant slewing ship-loaders with a loading rate capacity of 4,500 TPH each
Can load vessels to a maximum height of 34 metres above LLW
Outreach of 43 metres
The overall hatch length of the vessel should not exceed 240 metres.
Ridley Terminal Specifications