VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Aug. 10, 2016) - The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is pleased to see the federal government's increased support of the Canadian Coast Guard, demonstrated this week by the re-opening of the Kitsilano Coast Guard Base.

"It is expected the base will improve the Coast Guard's ability to respond to incidents and ensure greater safety for recreational and commercial vessels in the Port of Vancouver," said Peter Xotta, Vice President, Planning and Operations at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.

For years, the port authority and the shipping industry have been calling for increased resourcing of the Coast Guard, in particular to ensure its ability to fulfil its leadership role in responding to and managing pollution spills in local waters.

In 2013, Transport Canada's Tanker Safety Expert Panel released its report and 45 recommendations for improving spill response in Canada. Many of those recommendations have been put in place, and the port authority is encouraged by the federal government's clear interest in ensuring the region will be safeguarded in the unlikely event of a marine shipping spill.

For more information:

• Transport Canada Tanker Safety Expert Panel reports

About the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is responsible for the stewardship of the federal port lands in and around Vancouver, British Columbia. It is accountable to the federal minister of transport and operates pursuant to the Canada Marine Act. The port authority manages the Port of Vancouver, which is Canada's largest port and the third largest tonnage port in North America, responsible for Canada's trade with more than 170 world economies. Located in a naturally beautiful setting on Canada's west coast, the Port of Vancouver is responsible for the efficient and reliable movement of goods and passengers, and integrates environmental, social and economic sustainability initiatives into all areas of port operations. Enabling the trade of approximately $200 billion in goods in 2015, the port sustains an estimated 100,000 supply-chain jobs, $6.1 billion in wages, and $9.7 billion in GDP across Canada.