FRPD is Canada’s largest dredging, marine and heavy civil construction contractor, with over a century of industry leadership.

Centerm Expansion & South Shore Access

The Centennial Expansion Partnership, which included Dragados Canada, FRPD and Jacob Bros. Construction, delivered the Centerm Expansion and South Shore Access project for Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and DP World. The project increased the terminal footprint by 15% and boosted terminal throughput capacity by 60%, supporting the future growth of Canada’s busiest port.

Problem

The Centerm terminal required major upgrades to meet rising cargo demand. The facility needed more land for container handling, stronger access infrastructure, and a redesigned footprint to improve efficiency and reduce bottlenecks. This project also included the demolition and replacement of the operations building on the terminal. Significant dredging, filling, shoreline works and deep-water foundation preparation were essential to support caisson installation and new terminal structures.

Solution

The joint venture under a design build contract, executed the scope under tight timelines, in an active terminal and within permit restrictions. As part of the joint venture FRPD self performed the large-scale marine works. Work included dredging ~500,000 m3 of contaminated and non-contaminated sediments, constructing deep-water caisson foundations and delivering over one million cubic metres of sand and rock for land reclamation. FRPD utilized clamshell dredges, a hopper dredge, and multiple support vessels simultaneously to dredge, build rock dykes and shoreline protection—maintaining production in a confined, heavily trafficked waterway.

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Key Facts
  • Dredging and upland disposal of 20,000 m³ of contaminated seabed
  • Ocean disposal of 260,000 m³ of material for dyke construction
  • Dredging a 30-metre-deep trench for caisson support
  • Delivering and placing 500,000 m³ of quarried rock for perimeter dykes
  • Installing 100,000 m³ of mattress material for the deep-water trench
  • Delivering and placing 1,000,000 m³ of Fraser River sand for land reclamation

FRPD completed all dredging within a single fish window, operating two 10-hour shifts daily, seven days a week, for seven months. Strict environmental controls—including silt curtains and sealed barges—prevented cross-contamination. Careful coordination allowed multiple dredges and barges to work safely and efficiently, even in night operations. These marine works enabled the expansion and ensured the terminal remains a high-capacity, efficient gateway for Canada’s imports and exports.